First defeat for Wolfsburg’s new coach Florian Kohfeldt: VfL lost 3-1to second-division side Hansa Rostock in a test on Wednesday. Defender William was injured again on his comeback.
There was much on Wednesday to remind us of 10 July this year. At that time, VfL Wolfsburg lost a test match against Hansa Rostock with 0:3, coach Mark van Bommel scolded afterwards: “There was a lack of commitment and level.” It was the beginning of a five-game losing streak in VfL’s preparation, and somehow also the beginning of the premature end of the Dutch coach, who was recently sacked. His successor Florian Kohfeldt has now suffered his first defeat as VfL coach – also against Hansa Rostock.
And the 39-year-old was anything but satisfied with his team’s performance, for which Dodi Lukebakio’s debut goal in a Wolfsburg shirt only served to improve the result to 1:3. “I didn’t like it,” said Kohfeldt clearly, “you have to expect more from one or the other individually. “
William: “Small incident” during warm-up
At the same time, the coach was able to explain the weak performance of his team, which for long stretches lacked the intensity it had shown recently. In terms of personnel, Kohfeldt not only had to do without the internationals, but also without Maximilian Arnold and Ridle Baku, who had been called up to the DFB. “I don’t want to sugarcoat it,” Kohfeldt stressed, “but you have to take the circumstances into account a bit. “
This includes the new concern about right-back William. The Brazilian is only just back from his second cruciate ligament rupture and was expected to be in the starting eleven for his comeback game against Rostock, but then waved it off after the warm-up. According to Kohfeldt, there had been a “small incident” during the warm-up. William was examined, then gave the green light, as did the VfL doctors, and finally came onto the field for the second half.
Yet: After only a few minutes, his knee buckled away without any opponent’s influence, William immediately indicated the change, hitting his fist against his other hand in frustration. A diagnosis is still pending, Kohfeldt says: “I hope nothing bad has happened.” Another serious injury to the defender would be the worst news on an already used day for VfL.
