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Wolfsburg coach Bauer in an exclusive interview: “Feel total trust” (10 min)
Win or fly?
As of: March 5, 2026 4:20 p.m
Red alert at VfL Wolfsburg: After seven games without a win in a row and falling to 17th place in the Bundesliga, coach Daniel Bauer has to turn things around on Saturday against HSV. It’s probably his last chance.
Bauer only succeeded Daniel Simonis as the new coach of the “Wolves” in November 2025. After a promising start (seven points from four games), the team is now in serious crisis even under him. Seven of the last ten games were lost. Most recently there was a disastrous 0:4 at VfB Stuttgart.
There has to be a sense of success on Saturday against HSV (3:30 p.m. in the NDR Livecenter). Another defeat would most likely result in his dismissal.
“It won’t be champagne football.”
Wolfsburg coach Daniel Bauer
“It won’t be champagne football,” predicts Bauer. “It will be about the basic virtues of football. Extreme willingness to run and intense duels. Running, scratching, biting. We have to be the best possible version of ourselves.”
The VfL coach puts his own fate aside. He doesn’t want to know anything about a final for his job: “It’s not a final for me. It’s an incredibly important six-point game for our club. It’s brutally important to try to block out all the background noise. At the end of the day, that just eats up energy.”
HSV comes with 10,000 fans
What gives all VfL supporters hope: HSV is also in a performance hole. Recently there were two home defeats in a row within three days – 1:2 against RB Leipzig and 0:1 against Bayer Leverkusen. The Rothosen’s point cushion over Wolfsburg is only six points.
In order to get back on the road to success away from home, there will be a lot of Hamburg support from the stands. Around 10,000 HSV fans are expected in the VfL arena. That’s why Bauer is asking for the help of the Wolfsburg supporters: “Please don’t let us have an away game here at home.”
Arnold & Svanberg comeback?
The recently injured Maximilian Arnold (groin) and Mattias Svanberg (knee) could actively intervene again for the “Wolves”. Bauer: “We will decide after the final training whether they will return to the squad.”
HSV, on the other hand, has to do without Bakery Jatta for several weeks. The winger sustained an injury to his left thigh against Leverkusen. Miro Muheim, who was suspended against Bayer (fifth yellow card), is ready to play again.
Possible lineups
HSV: This year Fernandes – Torunarigha, L. Vuskovic, Elfadli – Mikelbrencis, Lokonga, Remberg, Muheim – Vieira, Königsdörffer, Otele
VfL Wolfsburg: Grabara – Adjetey, Jenz, Koulierakis – Kumbedi, Vinicius Souza, Belocian – Eriksen, Gerhardt – Pejcinovic, Amoura
