The third consecutive bankruptcy hurts. The problems at VfL Wolfsburg seem obvious: too many goals conceded, too few own goals.

Wolfsburg’s bankruptcy of the Union

Berlin (dpa) – The VfL Wolfsburg players who were already winless and again beaten only hesitantly dared to go to their own fans in their poisoned green jerseys.

Frustration, disappointment, perplexity: there is not much left of the dream start with the first place in the Bundesliga with four wins in four matches. Then she was declared a Bayern fighter, now VfL should be in crisis, remarked coach Mark van Bommel and brought the misery of the “wolves” from his point of view to the point. “If you don’t score a goal yourself you can’t win,” said a Dutchman: “That’s it.”

The Champions League participant’s last win to date came on September 11 with a 2-0 victory over newly promoted SpVgg Greuther Fürth. Previously there had been successes in the so-called easy opening program against VfL Bochum (1: 0), who had also been promoted, Hertha, who was repeatedly ill (2: 1) and vice – previously struggling champion RB Leipzig (1: 0). After a 1-1 draw against Eintracht Frankfurt, the losing streak began with a 3-1 draw against TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Borussia Mönchengladbach.

Arnold self-critical record man

“If you lose the last three games and concede eight goals, that’s a lot,” said new Wolfsburg record holder Maximilian Arnold after his 259th Bundesliga appearance for VfL. He would have preferred to win and “play my game with no idea what kind of game”, stressed the midfielder. “As soon as possible” they should get there, “that we do everything we can to defend the goal,” Arnold demanded.

The fact that the defensive guest in front of the 10,978 spectators in the temple of mood Berlin-Köpenick, which van Bommel was already looking forward to, was not always up to date, was used by the Unioners with what is happening went to Wolfsburg: maximum efficiency with a starter named Max Kruse at 1-0. The ex-Wolfsburg initiated the luck that Taiwo Awoniyi capped with his sixth goal (49th minute) in the eighth game of the season. In contrast, Wout Weghorst, who is actually responsible for scoring goals at VfL, was still on the bench at the time.

Weghorst on the bench

“We didn’t win the game, so in retrospect it’s always easier to say you didn’t do well,” said van Bommel. And what did Weghorst, who had to last look for a place on the bench over a year ago on September 27, 2020, say at the start of the game?

“The coach informed me this week that I will not be playing from the start. That the other three up front was a better decision for the team. This is what it is about. It’s not for me to talk about it, everyone up there is doing their best, ”said the 29-year-old Dutchman. After coming on, he immediately had two good chances.

Weghorst failed to defeat Union goalkeeper Andreas Luthe – the Berliner with the most contact with the ball – before substitute Sheraldo Becker (83rd) made the decision with the hosts’ second goal. The Unioners overtook VfL with 15 points in the table to take fifth, Wolfsburg remains sixth with 13 points.

In view of the obvious income crisis, van Bommel sees no reason to change course. “But you shouldn’t be saying you have to distract yourself or stray from your plan,” the 44-year-old stressed. “It seems strange now: we have always done the same thing, only the results are different. But the results decide. A victory is necessary. Wednesday the Champions League continues with group leader RB Salzburg, Wolfsburg is still awaiting the first victory in the master class after two draws.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 211017-99-626005 / 3