The VfL Wolfsburg footballers are still on course in the Bundesliga after the clear 4-1 win against fifth-placed SC Freiburg and are still hot on their heels for champions Bayern (37 points) in the table with one game less (35). After the first leg in Breisgau, the mood was different. It was only enough for the Wolfsburg women after a mixed performance for a 2:2. One who got particularly loud back then was Svenja Huth. “That’s not what we want,” warned the national player. The 31-year-old has been part of the trio of captains since this season – and knows from personal experience how important it is to have a certain mentality as an example.
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“It was also a learning process for me,” said Huth, who made her Bundesliga debut for 1. FFC Frankfurt in 2007 at the age of 16. Back then, as the native of Alzenau remembers, “there were many seasoned national players in the squad from whom I was able to learn an incredible amount.” Saskia Bartusiak, Kerstin Garefrekes, Birgit Prinz, Conny Pohlers – the list of the then Frankfurt star ensemble was long. In 2015, Huth moved to Potsdam with more prospects of playing time – and matured into a seasoned Bundesliga player, which automatically entailed more responsibility. Huth: “I grew more and more into this role, evolving on and off the pitch. Ultimately, I matured into the person I am today.”
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A personality that hits the table when it has to. But she also recognizes and emphasizes the strengths of her team. In times of upheaval, she always led the way at VfL. The team has been significantly rejuvenated, with Lena Oberdorf (20), Lena Lattwein (21), Joelle Smits (22), Lynn Wilms (21) and Sveindis Jonsdottir (20), great talents from many different nations play in Wolfsburg. “We need players like that, but we also have to feed them with talks and support. You can’t forget your age despite a certain charisma on the pitch.”
As an experienced player, Huth takes herself to task: “You can pass on a lot, because you’ve already won a few titles, lost finals or experienced setbacks. It’s also a particularly big step for those who don’t come from Germany. Help there us, so that they don’t lose their carefree attitude.”
The Wolfsburg women are still represented in all three competitions, but have a great March ahead of them. It’s all the more important that “the consistency in our game has improved a lot now,” said Huth. VfL remain more patient, “without losing the thread and our heads.” The performance last Sunday made the national player, who feels well again after recovering from the corona disease, happy. Huth: “It’s important that we gain self-confidence in games like against Sand and Freiburg.” Because what it’s like to play against a VfL bursting with self-confidence, experienced above all Chelsea FC at a clear 4-0 in December. March will be exhausting, “but I know that the head also plays a role.” And no one can fool the women of Lower Saxony anymore. Huth: “We’re mentally strong – and we’ve shown that in the decisive games.”
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