Wolfsburg apologizes
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After VfL Wolfsburg’s worst defeat in Bundesliga history, coach Daniel Bauer tried to quickly shake off the horror of the start of the year in Munich. “This bitter defeat must be out of our minds by tomorrow morning at the latest,” said the 43-year-old, looking ahead to a groundbreaking week in the relegation battle with the home games against FC St. Pauli on Wednesday and against Heidenheim on Saturday.
But can you really just put this 1:8 (1:2) loss against FC Bayern aside and put it aside? In the Bundesliga this millennium there have only been eleven wins with 8:1 or higher – the Munich team have won eight times.
Wolfsburg full-back Kilian Fischer, who was completely overwhelmed against Bayern’s wing artist Michael Olise, spoke of “an embarrassing performance” by his team in the second half. With a market value of 130 million euros, Olise is the most valuable player in the Bundesliga – the entire VfL Wolfsburg squad is valued at 236 million euros.
The new sports director Pirmin Schwegler, who has been in office since December 10, 2025, described what happened in the Allianz Arena as “a complete failure. If you go 0-6 in the second half, then not much was good.” Attacker Dzenan Pejcinovic, who had made it 1-1, said that after a good first half they had “partially surrendered”. Partially?
Bauer apologizes to VfL Wolfsburg fans
Bauer’s only option was to “simply apologize” to the VfL fans who had traveled with him for the loss in the second half. Even if Bayern were “in top form” and got into a flow,” as the 43-year-old said after his extremely bitter Munich debut. Former professional Schwegler warned: “You won’t survive in the Bundesliga if you defend like that.” If you compare the Wolves’ squad value with their 14th place in the table, they are the weakest performing team in the league. In the squad value table, the Lower Saxony team is in seventh place between VfB Stuttgart and TSG Hoffenheim.
The only thing that the sports director, coach and players saw as positive on Sunday evening was that the English week would continue immediately. “The only good thing is that we can show a reaction again on Wednesday – and we need that,” said Schwegler urgently. “We will show a different face again on Wednesday,” promised Fischer: “We should win at home against St. Pauli and Heidenheim.” The upcoming opponents are only three points behind VfL in the table and the Wolves’ goal difference was set from -5 to -12 after the historic defeat.