Criticism after test bankruptcies
After a botched blitz tournament between VfL Wolfsburg and Hannover 96 and VfL Osnabrück, coach Niko Kovac reacted angrily and named deficiencies. Defensively, in particular, needs to be improved. “That’s not what we want,” said Kovac after the “Volkswagen Cup,” in which the “Wolves” blundered against their rivals from Lower Saxony in 45 minutes each. The disappointing results: 1:3 against the third division team from Osnabrück and 1:1 against second division team Hannover.
In his criticism, the former Bayern coach also did not accept that VfL is only at the beginning of its pre-season preparations and that numerous national players such as Jonas Wind (23) or Jakub Kaminski (20) will only start team training this Monday after completing performance tests. “We still have a lot to do,” said Kovac. “We worked in the offensive area, I only saw a bit of that today. We haven’t even worked in the defensive network yet, I saw a lot of construction sites there.”
Since the promotion to the Bundesliga: All Wolfsburg coaches with a record
Florian Kohfeldt – 28 competitive games – 1.14 points per game
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Term of office: October 26, 2021 to May 15, 2022
Mark van Bommel – 13 competitive games – 1.15 points per game
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Term of office: July 1, 2021 to October 24, 2021
Oliver Glasner – 87 competitive games – 1.67 points per game
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Term of office: July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021
Bruno Labbadia – 50 competitive games – 1.52 points per game
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Term of office: February 20, 2018 to June 30, 2019
Martin Schmidt – 22 competitive games – 1.18 points per game
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Term of office: September 18, 2017 to February 19, 2018
Andries Jonker – 19 competitive games – 1.47 points per game
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Term of office: February 27, 2017 to September 18, 2017
Valérien Ismaël – 17 competitive games – 1.12 points per game
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Term of office: October 17, 2016 to November 5, 2016
Dieter Hecking – 165 competitive games – 1.75 points per game
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Term of office: January 1, 2013 to October 17, 2016
Lorenz-Günther Köstner – 11 competitive games – 1.82 points per game
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Interim coach from October 25th, 2012 to December 31st, 2012 (previously already in 2010 with 21 games, 1.62 points on average)
Felix Magath – 52 competitive games – 1.23 points per game
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Second term: 03/18/2011 to 10/25/2012
Pierre Litbarski – 5 competitive games – 0.60 points per game
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Interim coach from 02/07/2011 to 03/18/2011
Steve McClaren – 24 competitive games – 1.21 points per game
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Term of office: July 1, 2010 to February 7, 2011
Armin Veh – 27 competitive games – 1.26 points per game
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Term of office: July 1, 2009 to January 25, 2010
Felix Magath – 85 competitive games – 1.86 points per game
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First of two terms of office from 06/15/2007 to 06/30/2009
Klaus Augenthaler – 56 competitive games – 1.16 points per game
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Term of office: December 29, 2005 to May 19, 2007
Coach Holger – 25 competitive games – 1.28 points per game
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Term of office: July 1, 2005 to December 19, 2005
Eric Gerets – 44 competitive games – 1.34 points per game
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Term of office: April 4, 2004 to May 28, 2005
Jürgen Röber – 48 competitive games – 1.42 points per game
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Term of office: 03/04/2003 to 04/04/2004
Wolfgang Wolf – 195 competitive games – 1.45 points per game
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Term of office: March 23, 1998 to March 4, 2003 (took over in Wolfsburg’s first Bundesliga season on matchday 28 from promotion coach Willi Reimann)
Kovac on troublemaker Pongracic: “We’ll see how it all develops.”
The focus at VfL is once again on central defender Marin Pongracic. The 24-year-old Croatian returns to Wolfsburg and compatriot Kovac after an unproductive loan to Borussia Dortmund. The coach emphasized, and this also applies to offensive man Josip Brekalo (24), who has also returned to Wolfsburg for the time being, that the returnees will have their chance. He said (quoted via Bild): “I know what was in the past. Of course it’s not that easy. But I’m trying to break free of it. We have to perform. And if those who were ultimately unhappy here still want to go with us, then we’re happy to take them with us.”
In particular, Pongracic’s relationship with his parent club, where he is still under contract until 2024, is likely to be heavily burdened overall. During his time at BVB, the player spoke very directly about animosities with ex-coach Mark van Bommel and about the numbers of his loan deal, thus forcing VfL to announce consequences. Kovac now commented on the professional who was still ill: “When he arrives, we will see how it all develops.”
Again, the following applies to Kovac: “Everyone can recommend themselves. Ultimately, every national player wants to go to the World Cup. That means everyone has to work hard. And the one who doesn’t make an effort won’t play. And if you don’t play, you’ll have fewer chances of going to the World Cup.”
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