Hitlzsperger confident of Stuttgart success

Stuttgart have not enjoyed the best preparation for the visit of Scottish champions Rangers on Wednesday night, losing 3-1 to Hamburg in the Bundesliga at the weekend.However, Hitzlsperger said: "It's the competition that we want to be involved in and where we want to play a role in the future."Now we are a part of it and that's just how we intend it to continue."We will be doing everything in our power to make a better go of it this time than we did two years ago."The former Aston Villa midfielder added: "I'm convinced that we can progress."The weekend's defeat leaves Markus Babbel's men 11th in the Bundesliga and with just five points from as many games so far this term.Stuttgart's cause has not been aided by the fact star man Alexander Hleb is struggling with a muscle strain picked up at the weekend.Babbel is simply desperate to get to grips with the new Champions League campaign, even if he is without the former Arsenal midfielder.Babbel explained: "The lads have worked extremely hard to get the chance to take on a team tomorrow that have been involved on the international scene for many years and possess a great deal of experience."We will have to put on a top performance if we are to win this one."

Source: Team_Talk