After seven match days, VfL Wolfsburg is in 17th place. Almost everything is missing in the game at Union Berlin. Coach Kovac is bubbling – and is harsh with his professionals.
The behavior of his team left Niko Kovac extremely frustrated once again this season. “From the first minute we didn’t understand how to bring more fight, more passion to the day,” said the 50-year-old after Wolfsburg’s 2-0 defeat at leaders Union Berlin. The coach was visibly trying to keep his composure, but didn’t spare clear words for his players: “We’re just not ready to show the basics that you need in football, passion, camaraderie, the mentality, the sacrifice. That I miss.”
With the defeat, VfL slipped down to 17th place in the table. Kovac had landed a threesome with the Lower Saxony for the first time the week before after knocking out attacker Max Kruse with the 1-0 in Frankfurt. Just a week later, the signs point to a crisis again.
Schmadtke sees a challenge for everyone
Managing Director Jörg Schmadtke gave Kovac support after the game. When asked how much trust there was in the coach, Schmadtke said without hesitation: “Great. We don’t question the coach. And we don’t ignore him either.” In the current situation of the club, the manager sees a challenge for everyone. “We have to get out of this together. That’s why there is no discussion.”
VfL played “quite well” in the first half, said defender Ridle Baku. For the general offensive efforts of Lower Saxony, this is actually too generous a description. In the second half, Union found more and more gaps in the VfL defence.
Kovac wants to draw consequences as soon as possible
After seven days of play, no one has been relegated and no one has yet become a champion, but consequences must be drawn from this and as quickly as possible, said Kovac. One could learn a lesson from the appearance of Union Berlin.
It is important to show the essentials that you need in football, said Kovac. “And not just once a month, it has to happen week after week.” In the end, however, it is his job to ensure that his team does so. “We will manage it together,” said the native of Berlin. “I know that we have to change one or the other mentality.”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
