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Team check: VfL Wolfsburg has to reinvent itself | NDR.de – Sport

Status: 02.01.2022 10:07 a.m.

Having started the season as a Champions League starter, VfL Wolfsburg is currently just ahead of the relegation ranks in the Bundesliga. Coach Florian Kohfeldt promises a different face for his team for the second half of the season.

by Johannes Freytag

So went the first half of the season

After saying goodbye to Oliver Glasner, the Wolfsburg team started the season with a new head coach. Mark van Bommel had to answer for the first round of the DFB-Pokal because of a mistake, but it went even better in the league. The 2-0 win in Fürth was VfL’s fourth victory in their fourth game – the “Wolves” greeted the top of the table after the best start in their Bundesliga history. It wasn’t until the sixth match day that TSG Hoffenheim (1: 3) suffered their first defeat. However, it heralded the end for van Bommel, the middle of October after eight competitive games without a win had to go.

Florian Kohfeldt took over and celebrated a successful debut with three competitive game wins in a row. But the effect of the coach change quickly fizzled out. Only in Bielefeld (2: 2) was there a point afterwards, otherwise there were defeats. The 0: 4 at FC Bayern at the first half of the season was the fifth in a row. In addition, VfL also failed in the group stage of the Champions League after a 1: 3 against Lille.

Who is coming, who is going?

VfL sports director Marcel Schäfer im NDR interview a rejection. There is no reason to fear that a regular player will leave the club: “The subject is always only brought in from outside. We haven’t had to deal with it so far.”

“We are not known for falling into the wrong actionism just because we are in a difficult phase.”
VfL sports director Marcel Schäfer on possible transfers

In view of the injury-related failures of Paulo Otavio and Lukas Nmecha, VfL could strike again on the transfer market, the GSN data analysis also revealed the weak point on the left wing. Schäfer is reluctant, however: “The boys have already proven that they can do it much better.” Coach Kohfeldt also believes in the existing squad: “No, we don’t lack quality, we need a different attitude and a different way of playing football. And then we will bring our quality, which we undoubtedly have, to the field.”

Further information

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The first half of the Bundesliga was disappointing for the “Wolves”. Can the trend reversal be achieved through transfers or is a system change sufficient? more




The trainer

Kohfeldt is optimistic that he will succeed in the turnaround: “We will see another VfL Wolfsburg.” The 39-year-old is counting on the fact that, after the many English weeks in autumn, he will now have the first opportunity to learn processes and automatisms in training. His demand on the team: “We have to play football with significantly more aggressiveness, dynamism and joy.” VfL must act faster, especially on the offensive.

video embedded "> Florian Kohfeldt © picture alliance / dpa / Tobias Hase Photo: Tobias Hase

VIDEO: VfL coach Kohfeldt: “We don’t lack quality” (5 min)


Expectations for the season

Wolfsburg are eight points behind in fourth place, which would entitle them to participate in the Champions League again. However, they are only three points ahead of relegation rank. That is why manager Jörg Schmadtke warned: “I am looking very critically at the situation that we have brought on ourselves. First and foremost, I am looking downwards – that has to be safeguarded.”

The 57-year-old cannot and does not want to be satisfied with simply staying up in the league: “But that doesn’t end the season for us. I always have to strive for the maximum.” It is highly questionable whether the original season goal of Europe can actually still be achieved. If you take the table of the previous season, the “wolves” would have to increase significantly and get 30 points from the remaining 17 games for the Europa League, for the Champions League even 41 – not to mention that other teams would have to break in accordingly.

Further information

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7 Min


After the first half of the Bundesliga, VfL Wolfsburg is only 13th. It cannot and will not go on like this, says sports director Marcel Schäfer. 7 min



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Results, table standings and game days at a glance. more




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Sport current | 01/02/2022 | 11:25 am


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