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Valentin Stocker scrolls with his finger on his smartphone and goes through the many comments on the FCB Instagram account. Since FC Luzern’s interest in the FCB captain was made public, four words have been repeated there: “Vale blyb bi uns”. Then the club’s TV camera focuses on Stocker’s face. And the 31-year-old says with a big smile on his face: “Dear fans, I will fulfill your wish and extend my contract for another two years.”
With this, FCB has set an example two days before the all or nothing match in the Europa League qualifying at NK Osijek and clarified an important personnel decision ahead of time. As with Taulant Xhaka, whose contract was also extended on Friday, with Stocker another support team will remain with FCB beyond the season.
FCB President Bernhard Burgener can be quoted in the press release as follows: “Valentin has a red and blue heart, he is the captain of this team and a leader on the field. I am very happy that with him we will maintain another player who has a deep and lasting bond with the club. “
Did Ciriaco Sforza convince his captain to stay?
© Marc Schumacher / freshfocus
The new manager did not want to respond to the influence of Ciriaco Sforza in the decision of the two recently dissatisfied players. When asked if he had mediated between the players and the club’s management, Sforza simply said: “The contract extensions are a sign of the club.” But it is also clear that something fundamental must have changed in Basel. The decisions of Xhaka, Stocker and also of Ricky van Wolfswinkel, who had already left the club in a rage, only to extend it a week later, cannot be explained otherwise.
The FCB really only had one solution
In hindsight, Stocker benefits from the fact that his flirtation with FC Luzern was made public. Central Switzerland wanted to lure the Kriens back home. Because the “Luzerner Zeitung” made the talks public, the FCB leadership, which is currently working without a sports director, came under pressure. Ideally, they should present a solution to Stocker’s cause before the start of the season. And that really could only be called a contract extension. Says Stocker: “The colors, the club and the fans mean a lot to me. Here is my heart, this is where I feel good. ”And so the Swiss from central Switzerland will continue to commute from their place of residence in Lucerne to Basel and tie their shoes for FCB and not for FCL.
