Wolfsburg – This W on his chest takes some getting used to from Werder’s point of view, but the friendly smile is very well known: Florian Kohfeldt appears in a good mood for the interview with the DeichStube. The coach of VfL Wolfsburg is very well aware that the media room of his new employer will be about the relegation of his ex-club Werder Bremen. But the 39-year-old doesn’t duck. He speaks in detail about his responsibility, expresses his emotional thanks to the people in Bremen and refers to the tradition of VfL Wolfsburg.
Moin, Florian Kohfeldt – or how do you say here in Wolfsburg?
Rather hello and hello, but I am not looked at funny when Moin.
Which Bremen customs have you already been able to introduce here?
Consciously nothing. You should rather ask the people here. After 20 years in Bremen I definitely have one or the other quality that others would call Bremen. I don’t even notice it.
After three wins in the first three games, “Bild” celebrated her as a “sleepy tactic fox and head problem solver with changing hands”. What should come now?
Actually, I should stop immediately, it doesn’t get any better (laughs). Seriously: We have already had a first week with results that cannot be taken for granted against opponents like Leverkusen, Salzburg and Augsburg. But to reduce that to my person now does not do justice to the matter.
But?
First of all, you have to say that we had two fifty-fifty games, against Salzburg and Augsburg. We haven’t played everything to the ground. And if we win, for me it’s always the team’s victories anyway. There is just an incredibly good foundation here. What is particularly striking is the work against the ball, the intensity and the individual quality of the players, who made the difference in the tight moments.
Nevertheless: How important was this dream start for you personally – especially after the last two difficult years in Bremen with the dismissal shortly before relegation to the 2nd division?
It is not a new finding: With victories, the quality of life in football increases. With every victory you gain time to work on further development in peace. You already have that in your head. That’s why this phase is very nice for me. And of course it is good to start working together with a sense of achievement in order to strengthen belief in the idea, i.e. what the trainer is telling you up front.
From Werder Bremen to VfL Wolfsburg: Florian Kohfeldt has consciously changed as a coach
What about believing in yourself, quickly realizing that after a difficult time you can make a difference again?
I believe that the phase from my dismissal to my new job was extremely important for me as a coach, but also as a person. It was about reflecting on this time and determining what was good and what was not. The rashes in Bremen were extreme. The first two years went exceptionally well, the next two very poorly in terms of results. I had to deal with that. When I came to Wolfsburg, I knew exactly what I wanted to change in myself as a coach. I also had the basic conviction that the quality of the squad, the structures with the sports management, i.e. Jörg Schmadtke and Marcel Schäfer, and my idea of football go very well together. I was sure of that, I am so confident that there is a chance of positive results.
What have you changed about yourself?
You can’t name everything exactly, certain things happen unconsciously. But it was an important realization for me that I don’t always have to look for extreme perfection. An example: In Bremen, I may have tried too hard during training to work a lot tactically. I don’t think I overwhelmed the players with that. But sometimes it’s good to just play six against six across the field. The mix is important. I took that away from many conversations with coaches and players.
Was there more?
Of course, it’s important for the players to have a coach who is with them, who acts out emotionality. But in some moments, a little more sovereignty may also be important. But one thing will never change, even if I was accused in the end in Bremen: my communicative and explanatory way of dealing with the players and everyone involved. This is extremely important in building a stable human relationship.
You were also accused of having taken care of a great many things in the club, although you were certainly pushed into this role. Is it different here?
Yes. I came here as head coach and I’m not the former third team goalkeeper and coach of the U16s or whatever. With that I don’t mean to spoil my time in Bremen, but it’s also good not to know everything and everyone. I can fully concentrate on my job as a trainer.
In Bremen you were Flo for many, what are you now – Florian or Herr Kohfeldt?
Not Mr. Kohfeldt – I’m not 40 yet … You and coach or Florian is okay, but I left Flo in Bremen.
Werder Bremen: Ex-coach Florian Kohfeldt experienced relegation with a “feeling of powerlessness”
How often do you think about the fact that Werder now has to fight in the 2nd division while you’re on the big football stage with VfL Wolfsburg in the Champions League?
I don’t have a guilty conscience that I have a great new club. We should say again that I didn’t say I was going. Of course it hurts that Werder is in the second division. I am still a big Werder fan and I keep my fingers crossed that it will go back up as quickly as possible.
How much do you feel as a relegated person?
As head coach, I played a big part in last season. That’s why I feel a great responsibility, and it’s not a nice feeling either. To be honest, the worst part was having to experience the descent without a fight.
You are referring to the last day of the match before which you were fired.
I don’t mean to criticize a decision, but this spectator role gave me a feeling of powerlessness.
As a result, however, you can claim that Werder might not have been relegated with you.
No, I would never say that. Certainly I can be blamed for a few things, but one thing is not that I didn’t fight. And I couldn’t do that on the last day of the game, just watch.
At home on the sofa?
No, no – in front of a television somewhere in Europe. I didn’t want to be in Bremen at the time.
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Florian Kohfeldt: “My relationship with Werder Bremen has not been destroyed”
In the summer of 2020, after the successful relegation against Heidenheim, you said that you would never have forgiven yourself for relegation with Werder and that your greatest fear was being fired because you no longer met your requirements. What did the layoff and relegation actually do to you?
Most of all, I was afraid of losing a piece of home if I was laid off. Because I’ve seen one or the other of my predecessors make their hometown a problem. Even if it sounds a bit pathetic, I really have to say: I am very, very grateful to the people of Bremen for how they have met me over the past few months. I don’t have the feeling that I’ve lost my hometown at all – and I’ve been to Bremen a lot. People don’t look at me funny, I still feel a lot of affection and feel at home. And to be honest, that’s very important to me.
Do you sometimes ask yourself: With what I know today, how could I have prevented relegation?
They are aiming at the game in Bielefeld, which many see as the crux of the matter. But I can say one thing very clearly: Nobody in our dressing room felt completely safe after the Bielefeld game ten game days before the end of the season! There is no one reason. For me, the relegation was an overall construct – and not just last season.
Was the squad that was changed due to the need to cut costs no longer competitive?
As I said, there is no one reason – and I would like to leave it at that.
Werder boss Klaus Filbry publicly criticized you two weeks after relegation for believing Werder to be safe too early and for having replaced them incorrectly in the end. How surprised and how affected was this stepping down?
My closest contact in the association was Frank Baumann at all times. I no longer want to evaluate individual processes because I have always felt that we are us. That is why we all bear responsibility. I have a very good relationship with everyone in charge – especially Frank Baumann and Marco Bode. Nothing broke there.
You were part of the Werder family for 20 years – rose from being a son as a player to becoming a father as a coach. What degree of family do you have now, perhaps that of your uncle who has emigrated?
(laughs) I don’t know if I’ll still be invited to family celebrations. My relationship with Werder has not been destroyed. I can look everyone in the eye because I gave everything. But now I’m in Wolfsburg.
Werder Bremen ex-trainer Florian Kohfeldt with VfL Wolfsburg in the Champions League: “It’s awesome”
What do you want to achieve with VfL?
The goal of the season was that we wanted to play in the league for European places. I think that’s realistic. And we want to go as far as possible in the Champions League.
How did you feel at the first Champions League game of your career?
It’s awesome (laughs). The moment the anthem was played gave goose bumps. That was a different, a special atmosphere.
Also in Wolfsburg?
Definitely! I know the stadium wasn’t sold out. But there was a special connection between those who were there and the crew. You could feel that.
Nevertheless: You lived Werder as a traditional club and also liked to use the special power of the fans in statements or in the Weserstadion. How do you fit in with a factory club like Wolfsburg?
To be fair, it has to be said that VfL Wolfsburg didn’t just join the Bundesliga three years ago. One underestimates the tradition of VfL. That’s why it’s not difficult for me to get involved with this club. There are incredibly professional structures – and I thought it was great in the stadium.
When is there a sporting reunion with Werder?
Unfortunately, it’s impossible this season because we’re both out of the cup. I hope that we will have two games a year against each other as soon as possible. (knee)
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