Koen Casteels returned to the VfL goal with two serious mistakes in Wolfsburg’s 4-0 defeat in Mönchengladbach. The goalkeeper talks about the crisis at his club and rumors about his future
Koen Casteels could make it easy for himself. The keeper was out of action for weeks due to an unspecified “inflammation in the abdominal area” and finally made a cold start in Mönchengladbach that went badly wrong. The 31-year-old conceded two goals, but he does not cite his forced absence as an explanation.
“The injury has nothing to do with it, these things just happen,” emphasized the Belgian. “Sometimes there’s no explanation for it.” Instead, he sees it as a good sign “when people say that they don’t know that about me”. That’s why Casteels has long since put the game behind him. “Everyone makes mistakes in their job. Now it’s time to get up again and do better. I’m experienced enough. “
“With our quality, we’ll get out of it again “
His experience will also be crucial if VfL want to work their way out of the current crisis in the coming games. On Saturday against RB Leipzig, Wolfsburg will be under real pressure after picking up just one point from five games. “It’s now about keeping our heads up, working hard and sticking together,” demanded the deputy captain. “Then we’ll get out of it with the team and the quality we have. “
Quality that Wolfsburg undoubtedly have in goal with Casteels, even the recent slip-ups won’t change that. Quality that will need to be replaced in the summer at the latest, when the veteran leaves VfL after nine years. His successor, Kamil Grabara, comes from FC Copenhagen
And where is the Belgian heading? In response to rumors that FC Bayern have been keeping an eye on the Wolfsburg player, he says: “Of course a club like that would be a nice move.” However: “I am still completely open and free in my decision. There’s nothing concrete yet.” However, inquiries are still coming in: “When you know that your contract ends in June, it’s completely normal to get a few calls.”
However, Casteels emphasizes that his full concentration is still on VfL. “The most important thing for me is that I perform well in Wolfsburg and that we are successful with VfL.”
The club has been far from that in recent weeks
