First the victory in the Bundesliga – and now the “wolves” are also cheering in the premier class. Wolfsburg gained a lot of self-confidence at the Champions League premiere of new coach Florian Kohfeldt.
–
VfL Wolfsburg prevailed against Red Bull Salzburg. Photo: Swen Pförtner / dpa (Image: dpa)
(Photo: Swen Pförtner / dpa)
Wolfsburg – The only Wolfsburg man who stayed calm after the final whistle was Florian Kohfeldt. All the players, substitutes, supervisors and spectators around him burst into loud cheers.
Under his new coach, VfL Wolfsburg also achieved their first victory of this Champions League season. After the 2: 1 (1: 1) victory against the leaders FC Red Bull Salzburg, everything is possible again for the Bundesliga club in group G in the preliminary round.
“That was incredibly important for the competition,” said Kohfeldt in a DAZN interview. «Mentality, intensity, playing against the ball: a big compliment to the team for that. That was a great evening! ” The group has been reopened a little. «We are not at an advantage; we have to keep delivering. We now have a tough game in Seville. And I’m happy that our last game against Lille is a home game. ”
Change of coach is fruitful
The German international Ridle Baku brought the “wolves” in front of the national coach and grandstand guest Hansi Flick in the fourth minute. After the equalizer with a directly converted free kick by Maximilian Wöber (30th), Lukas Nmecha’s winning goal (60th) fell exactly at the point when VfL was actually too passive. “It was an instinct thing. I kicked it as hard as possible, ”said the U21 European champion afterwards. “We just got the confidence back.”
Before the last two group games at FC Sevilla and against OSC Lille, the Wolfsburg team can now even be group winners. In any case, the first results of the Champions League debutant Kohfeldt are remarkable: After eight competitive games without a win and the separation from Mark van Bommel, his successor has now won two wins against the Bundesliga top club Bayer Leverkusen and the Austrian series champions from Salzburg.
The effect this change of coach has had so far can also be seen in comparison to the 3-1 defeat in the first leg in Salzburg two weeks ago. In Austria, VfL was temporarily overrun. However, Kohfeldt strengthened Wolfsburg’s defenses so much in just one week that Salzburg were again dominant, but this time they were rarely dangerous. Defensive behavior, body language, cooperation on the pitch: In many ways, the team under Kohfeldt shows a new face.
Adeyemi forgives
The most conspicuous attacker on the pitch was actually Salzburg’s German international Karim Adeyemi. The 19-year-old striker, who was also closely observed by Flick, missed two clear opportunities at the beginning of both halves (2nd / 50th). “I am extremely disappointed in myself and rightly so,” he later quarreled with his exploitation of the chances. “It wasn’t that good, and it felt like every shot went in at Wolfsburg.”
For the fact that the Wolfsburg had to win this game, they hardly appeared at the front. Nmecha’s winning goal fell out of nowhere at the time. And striker Wout Weghorst also only had one chance to score in the 36th minute on his first appearance after a two-week corona quarantine. But VfL could afford it. The compact defense network held tight in Kohfeldt’s new 3-4-3 system until the final whistle. «We have stability again. That gives the team a good feeling, ”said the new defense chief Josuha Guilavogui.
© dpa-infocom, dpa: 211102-99-839726 / 6
– .
