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Wolfsburg’s Janou Levels: “Want a good result” (3 min)
As of: December 17, 2025 10:18 a.m
The VfL Wolfsburg footballers will meet Chelsea LFC today at the end of the main round in the Champions League. If they are successful against the English champions and the competition makes mistakes at the same time, the Lower Saxony team could even climb to fourth place, which would mean direct entry into the quarter-finals.
The fact that the “Wolfs” even have this chance before today’s duel with the Londoners (9 p.m., in the Livencenter on NDR.de) is undoubtedly remarkable. After the major personnel changes last summer and the very demanding program in recent months, both psychologically and physically, overwintering in the “premier league” as well as in the DFB Cup and second place in the Bundesliga rankings is a remarkable interim result.
“We now want to go into the winter break with two good games and then we can all give ourselves a little pat on the back,” said coach Stephan Lerch. After the game against Chelsea, the first division northern duel with Hamburger SV awaits its kickers on Sunday (6.30 p.m.) at the end of the year. They will then celebrate Christmas with no fewer than 22 competitive games under their belt.
The Supercup encounter against champions Bayern Munich and the various international appearances are not included in this list. The Wolfsburg team will have to grit their teeth again in the last 180 minutes of the 2025 football year.
Lerch expects aggressive English women
Chelsea is one of the favorites for the Champions League title on the Mittelland Canal. “They are very flexible. Coupled with their quality across the board, we don’t know what to expect from them,” enthused Lerch about the English champions. With all respect for the upcoming opponent, the VfL coach’s anticipation of the game predominates: “This is the Champions League, competing against the best, which is what we all want.”
The guests arrive third in the table – and of course want to defend this position at all costs in order to save themselves the detour of two play-off games to the quarter-finals. To be on the safe side in this regard, the Londoners would have to win. “So I expect an opponent who will also play to win. That might suit us,” explained Lerch.
Wolfsburg has to hope for mistakes from Munich and Co
His Wolfsburg team are seventh in the table, two points behind Chelsea and one point each behind Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Juventus Turin, who therefore have better chances in the fight for direct qualification for the round of the last eight. So a lot would have to come together for VfL to finish fourth.
Lerch is also aware of this and therefore tried not to build up any pressure. “We can only win now. We’re trying to put that in the foreground now,” explained the 41-year-old. The coach hopes that his team will play freely. “We’re trying to bring our game to the pitch – of course making adjustments to the opponent,” said Lerch, explaining the route.
Keeper Johannes ready for action again
Somewhat surprisingly, the coach can again rely on national goalkeeper Stina Johannes against Chelsea, who suffered a fracture to her face in the encounter at Real Madrid (0-2) on the last Champions League matchday. “She has completed two training sessions with a mask, feels good and is ready to go,” said Lerch.
The 25-year-old will be between the posts again, said the coach. Last Saturday in the Bundesliga game against 1. FC Nürnberg (6:1), Johannes was represented by Martina Tufeković.
