analysis
That from the Wolfsburg women in the quarter -finals of the Champions League against FC Barcelona is no surprise. However, the extremely clear class difference in the first and second leg was blatant. The renowned and long such successful club threatens to be left behind – even though those responsible do not have much to reproach themselves.
It all looked so easy in the small Estati Johan Cruyff in the east of Barcelona: the perfectly pure -circled free kicks by Claudia Pina and Maria Leon, the relaxed degrees of Salma Paralluelo and also the meantime 3-0 by full -back Esmee. The 21-year-old Dutchman, now beyond the status of the mega talent, already drew attention to herself as a PSV Eindhoven player and at the latest at the 2023 World Cup came into view of a number of top clubs.
VfL Wolfsburg is also said to have been interested in Brugs, but which decided to move to Barcelona. To a world club, the Spanish coastal city with a wide range of nightlife and culture and more sun than in East Lower Saxony.
Barcelona and other top clubs drag away
If an association like “Barca” makes you serious in women’s football, only a few can keep up. The Catalans only professionalized their women’s football department in 2015 and quickly became one of the first addresses in Europe with the means and the reputation. If Barcelona also offers, VfL director Ralf Kellermann should sometimes not be able to explain the Wolfsburg offer in detail to the advisor or let alone the player. The big English clubs such as Chelsea and Arsenal also play through the popularity of their men’s teams, the financial means and the training conditions in a different league, and the metropolis of London also attracts.
Even if Wolfsburg would lure with big fees with the support of his owner, many players would still have no chance. If you look at the squads of the European top clubs with international stars, you will quickly find: VfL Wolfsburg’s quarter -finals in the Champions League was definitely a success.
Big disappointment in the DFB Cup
The end of the last eight in the DFB Cup against Hoffenheim in the round of the last eight is likely to be sorted as the greatest disappointment of the season. The Wolfsburg women won the trophy ten times in a row, and they had to write off the chance of a new title early. The appearance at TSG without force and without ideas, the team hardly played out and coach Stroot did without top goal shooter Lineth Beerensteyn in the starting eleven. A decision that can be criticized, one of dozens of personnel and tactics that analyze journalists and complain about fans. The trainer cannot be accused of big, fundamental mistakes.
Low chances of the championship title
In the league, his team is six points behind Bayern Munich and in third place with Eintracht Frankfurt. Points were given away among other things at the goalless draw among the third last ones from Cologne. 22 goal shots, four aluminum hits, even more precision is required for a team that is actually so susceptible to go. Several players currently do not achieve the performance strength of earlier seasons. Incidentally, you should not automatically write off the Wolfsburgers in the title fight: Again and again the team came back after setbacks, most recently when, shortly after the Cup-Aus Eintracht Frankfurt, was clearly and impressively defeated. However, the VfL is now dependent on slips from the Munich women in the only five remaining games. The first Titellose season since 2012 seems realistic.
Before this season, Lena Oberdorf, Ewa Pajor and Dominique Janssen left three world -class players. VfL director Kellermann has closed the gaps as much as possible. National player Janina Minge and striker Beerensteyn are top transfers. Central defender Caitlin Dijkstra was injured for a long time and does not play flawlessly, but her skills are clearly recognizable.
Upages in summer are imminent
A greater change will soon follow: The departures from Merle Frohms, which has now been graded to the replacement goalkeeper, as well as the attackers Jule Brand and Sveindis Jonsdottir at the end of the season have already been determined. According to NDR information, defenders Lynn Wilms and Kathrin Hendrich will also leave the club. Rebecca Blomqvist could also go, as well as Marina Hegering end her active career in summer.
So far, two newcomers have only been announced with the Australian foreign striker Sharn Freier and goalkeeper Stina Johannes from Frankfurt. However, it can be assumed that Kellermann has long been working on further obligations, advertises VfL and Wolfsburger Weg: Young players can take the next big step at the Mittelland Canal, play in the spotlight – and then move on.
Popp: Title “No Self -Run”
VfL won the Champions League in 2013 and 2014, two years ago the team was in the final and lost against FC Barcelona. At that time it was very different, very different from the quarter-finals this year. “Was there a class difference? Yes, maybe even two!”, Alexandra Popp wrote after the 1-6 in the second leg on Instagram. “Unfortunately, it is the reality. We are not good enough at the moment, we finally have to do that.”
Even before the game, the captain pointed out that title gains with the VfL was not a sure -fire success, which must also understand the environment. Indeed: On the one hand, expectations have to be changed in Wolfsburg, and investments have to be made on the other – so that the club can assert itself as much as possible in competition.
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Sport Current | 27.03.2025 | 9:17 p.m.
