Bundesliga - Kovac criticism and Wolfsburg crisis: "We have to wake up"
The mood is slowly changing at VfL Wolfsburg. The deserved 3:1 (2:1) defeat at relegation candidates VfL Bochum on Saturday was another sporting setback, for which the ambitious Volkswagen club had to listen to heavy criticism from its own supporters afterwards. "I'm disappointed and angry - especially for the fans," said midfielder Yannick Gerhardt. "We have to wake up slowly."
The DFB Cup and the round of 16 match at Borussia Mönchengladbach on Tuesday evening (8.45pm/ARD and Sky) are both an opportunity and a risk for Wolfsburg: this competition could save a season that has been disappointing and increasingly bogged down so far. Or the discussions about coach Niko Kovac and the work ethic of this expensive squad could become even louder and more heated.
Unlike the sporting management, the former Bayern coach has little credit with the supporters. Last season, VfL lost out on qualification for the Europa League on the last Bundesliga matchday with a home defeat against relegated Hertha BSC. This summer, following the lucrative sales of Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund) and Micky van de Ven (Tottenham Hotspur), the club was able to invest more than 70 million euros in strengthening the squad.
However, the interim results are sobering: six consecutive away defeats in the Bundesliga, a mid-table position and no further development in terms of play. The main accusation against Kovac is that his many changes and demanding style are what cause the great insecurity that he always complains about in his players afterwards.
The 52-year-old also clearly distanced himself from his team on Saturday. "We've conceded 16 goals in our last five away games," he said. "If you concede three in a training match, it's difficult to score four. And in the Bundesliga, that's even more difficult."
He continued: "I made it very clear before the game: VfL Bochum are playing in front of 26,000 spectators at the Ruhrstadion - that means it's going to be a real game. All eleven players have to be involved. If one or two of them take the ball out of the opponent's possession, that's not going to work. It's about showing more passion."
A lack of passion and professionalism is the last thing the former professional and current coach Kovac can be accused of. He has always defined himself through his enormous diligence and work ethic. However, the former Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich player often has a "everything used to be better" attitude that sometimes disturbs today's generation of players.
"It's generally a problem these days that players don't communicate at all on the pitch and don't help and correct each other verbally," said Kovac in Bochum. "That's what's wrong with us."
The Wolfsburg players don't even disagree with him. "You can lose games. But the way we lost today doesn't feel good," said the Swede Mattias Svanberg. Only the way to get out of this crisis - there are obviously very different opinions at VfL.
Information on the game at bundesliga.de
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- Despite the loss, VfL Wolfsburg still has a chance in the DFB Cup, with their round of 16 match against Borussia Mönchengladbach approaching on Tuesday evening.
- Niko Kovac, the former Bayern coach now leading Wolfsburg, has little credit with the supporters following their disappointment in the Europa League last season and high spending this summer.
- Borussia Mönchengladbach, VfL Bochum, and Hertha BSC Berlin are all teams that VfL Wolfsburg has encountered recently, leading to six consecutive away Bundesliga defeats and a mid-table position.
- Niko Kovac criticized his team's performance against Bochum, mentioning their inability to maintain the ball and score against a motivated opposition.
- In Germany's Lower Saxony region, VfL Wolfsburg has faced criticism for their inconsistent performances in the Bundesliga, which has resulted in a lack of fan support and hopes for a revival.
- VfL Bochum, playing with passion at their Ruhrstadion, defeated Wolfsburg 3-1 in the latest Bundesliga match, causing further concern for the ambitious team.
- With only 16 goals scored in their last five away games, VfL Wolfsburg is struggling to find the back of the net, making their quest for the Europa League challenging.
- The future of Niko Kovac and VfL Wolfsburg is uncertain, as their current situation in the Bundesliga leaves room for improvement and provokes discussions from both the club and the supporters.
- Broadcasting platforms ARD and Sky will cover the DFB Cup round of 16 match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach, providing an opportunity for critics and supporters to evaluate the team's progress.
Source: www.stern.de
