One more game on Friday at FC Bayern, then the first half of the season is over for VfL Wolfsburg. It’s already clear: there’s a lot to do afterwards – these are Wolfsburg’s plans for the winter.
“In January,” says managing director Jörg Schmadtke, “we have a lot of work ahead of us. “ VfL Wolfsburg need a turnaround in the second half of the season if they don’t want to find themselves in a relegation battle. As early as December, however, coach Florian Kohfeldt will ask his team to train again for the first time. On Saturday after the match in Munich, the staff and squad will meet again in Wolfsburg, training plans will be handed out, and then the team will go on a short Christmas holiday. This will end on 29 December, when Kohfeldt asks for the opening training session. The beginning of an important phase.
Everything that the VfL missed last summer during preparation must now be made up for. The development of a game idea, the establishment of a hierarchy, many basics for a better second half of the season. A lot to do in a short time. On New Year’s Day, the VfL professionals have another day off, then it’s back to the drawing board on 9 January, when the Lower Saxons start the second half of the season in Bochum. Before that, however, there will be another test: on 4 January, the team will host second-division team SC Paderborn.
Things will get interesting at the end of January when the league takes a two-week break after the 20th matchday (Wolfsburg in Leipzig on 23 January). Because the American John Anthony Brooks will be on an international trip at the most then, VfL is planning a training camp in southern climes. “A different atmosphere, a more pleasant climate,” says boss Schmadtke, “we are considering it.” Things will continue for VfL on 6 February with a home game against Fürth. But the turnaround should have been initiated by then.