Despite another expensive summer transfer window, VfL Wolfsburg are once again failing to turn star power into points in the Bundesliga table. The latest league loss – a 3-1 away defeat away at FC A...
Despite another expensive summer transfer window, VfL Wolfsburg are once again failing to turn star power into points in the Bundesliga table. The latest league loss – a 3-1 away defeat away at FC Augsburg – leaves the Autostädter with just one win through six Bundesliga matchdays. Instead of once again competing for Europe, the German Wolves enter the October international break just above the relegation zone.
All professionals associated with the Wolfsburg project expressed their dissatisfaction with the team’s form following yesterday’s loss. An editorial published by highly respected German footballing journalist Thomas Hiete of Kicker strongly avers that the VfL front office has once again failed to put a coherent project together. Danish managing director Peter Christiansen – now in office for 15 months – doesn’t appear to be succeeding in his task.
Yesterday’s passive and lethargic performance was labeled “anemic” by VfL right back Kilian Fischer. Head coach Paul Simonis and VfL sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz concurred. Hiete calls into question whether Danish managing director Christiansen’s call for a “Wolfsburg brand of exciting and thrilling football” is something that can be achieved with an eager-to-please rookie coach.
“That was not enough in all areas,” Schindzielorz remarked in the mixed zone yesterday. “There was only one team on the pitch that wanted to win and that was Augsburg.“
“There must never be a lack of intensity or energy,” a perplexed and angry looking Simonis added at the post-match press conference. “Those things should be easy to achieve.“
“There are dangerous symptoms emerging in Wolfsburg,” Hiete writes. “Symptoms of a relegation candidate. Christiansen has not made any visible progress with his plans. What does Wolfsburg actually stand for?”
Hiete goes on to reference specific new acquisitions in the summer transfer market that are not being used properly by Simonis. Chief among these is €18m Sheffield United signing Vinicius Souza, whom Hiete argues is being wasted as an attacking midfielder in order to keep him from encroaching on VfL captain Maximilian Arnold’s territory.
“All observers see the Brazilian as a classic defensive midfielder who – with his strength in one-on-one situations in front of the defense – could be of great value to the team,” Hiete writes. “But because he can’t get past captain Arnold, Simonis is trying a lazy compromise positioning Vinicius Souza more offensively as a link-up player. This only partially fits his profile.“
Hiete also questions why German left back Aaron Zehnter – after a conspicuously strong start – has been replaced by Danish fullback/winger Joakim Maehle. The versatile Sane can literally play in all manner of positions. There doesn’t seem to be a strong case for allowing Zehnter to be phased out.
There’s also evidence that other Danes – such as Jonas Wind, Christian Eriksen, and Adam Daghim – are being used above more qualified players. Moreover, Deadline day additions such as Saël Kumbendi and Jenson Seelt are either being barely used or not used at all.
Is the inexperienced Simonis trying too hard to impress his Danish managing director? Did Christiansen and Schindzielorz hire someone too eager to placate players and bosses and too cowardly to construct his own project?
“It’s by no means bad luck coincidence that Wolfsburg has only picked up two points since their opening day win against Heidenheim,” Hiete writes. “Time and again, serious individual errors already destabilize the team’s fragile structure. Simonis opens himself up to criticism with his personnel selections.”
Category: General Sports
