Augsburg / Wolfsburg (dpa) – sports director Jörg Schmadtke promised the players of the troubled VfL Wolfsburg plain text. “We will also address things very clearly that we didn’t like,” announced the former goalkeeper after Wolves’ third defeat in a row.
After the 0: 3 (0: 1) at FC Augsburg, VfL is back where it didn’t want to be this season: in the relegation battle of the Bundesliga.
“We’re still five points ahead of the really complicated places,” said Schmadtke. However, he himself may not have liked the relativization. After all, a five-point lead over Arminia Bielefeld in relegation place 16 is not the claim of Wolfsburg. “You have to show a lot more presence in the relegation battle,” Schmadtke demanded.
Iago shocked Wolfsburg after 49 seconds
So the Wolfsburg conceded three goals. After just 49 seconds, Iago gave Augsburg the lead. Florian Niederlechner (63rd minute) after video evidence and Mads Pedersen (69th) made the deserved home win perfect. Would the game have been different with Florian Kohfeldt on the sidelines? Maybe. Maybe not.
Kohfeldt was absent in Augsburg because he was not yet able to test himself after a corona infection. He was represented on the sidelines by the 25-year-old assistant Vincent Heilmann – the second youngest interim coach in Bundesliga history.
The communication with the referees on the sidelines and the press conference after the game was taken over by the VfL sports director. “I think the game doesn’t help recovery,” said Schmadtke about Kohfeldt, who is due to join the team again on Tuesday. He then has to get VfL on course for the groundbreaking home game against Bielefeld on Saturday. That’s going to be hard enough.
FCA demanded again on Wednesday
The Augsburgers have to play the catch-up game against FSV Mainz 05 on Wednesday. Another victory in front of a home crowd would be a milestone towards the eleventh Bundesliga season in a row. “We mustn’t lose a millimeter,” demanded manager Stefan Reuter, who was in the stadium with crutches after hip surgery.
Augsburg are now even closer to VfL by two points. Coach Markus Weinzierl is confident that his players will even improve. “The performance was just good, so we can keep working,” said the coach with satisfaction. His team must keep up the intensity. “I am confident that we will succeed again.” The resolution is on Wednesday.