Unexpected strategy catches FC Bayern off guard
Up in the sky, Tommy Stroot had been brainstorming his victory strategy. "We've had plenty of time to ponder our strategy for facing Bayern during our flight back from Rome," the VfL Wolfsburg manager shared following their 2:0 triumph over Munich's side on Saturday night.
On their trip back from the Champions League game against AS Roma (1:0 loss), the concept of employing a five-man defense and utilizing the "surprise factor" had started to take shape in Stroot and his team, leading to success. The Wolves managed to put an end to Bayern's unbeaten run in the Bundesliga, which spanned 44 games, thanks to goals from Vivien Endemann (5th minute) and Lineth Beerensteyn (67th minute). This narrowed the gap between the Wolves and the defending champions to just two points in the standings.
Bayern was "somewhat taken aback"
"Playing with a defensive block wasn't our initial plan," Stroot admitted: "However, given Bayern's playstyle, we took advantage of the opportunity to consider it." He had given his team a well-deserved break, mentally speaking.
The team even convened for a meeting on Saturday morning at the Elsterweg, which wasn't typical for a Bundesliga match day, according to Stroot. They discussed a few more things before the game and he praised their "excellent energy." "It's wonderful to see that we truly deserved this win," he added.
When asked about Wolfsburg's tactical shift, Bayern's head coach Alexander Straus conceded that he was "slightly taken aback, as they hadn't employed this strategy before. But we adjusted to it."
Whether Stroot will use the five-man defense in the upcoming Champions League match against Olympique Lyon on Thursday (9 pm CET), he remained enigmatic. "Our adaptation to a five-man defense is also due to the fact that Bayern is playing exceptional football," explained the Wolfsburg coach, and reiterated: "We are still VfL Wolfsburg. Today, it was the right decision, but it won't be a permanent one."
After their surprise victory over Bayern Munich, VfL Wolfsburg manager Tommy Stroot mentioned, "We also considered deploying a five-man defense against FC Bayern Munich during our return trip from Rome." Bayern's head coach Alexander Straus acknowledged, "Adapting to Wolfsburg's unexpected tactical shift was necessary during our encounter with them."
