VfL Wolfsburg have already been sent off three times this season, and have already received 18 yellow cards in the Bundesliga. Too many, according to coach Mark van Bommel, who nevertheless comes to the defence of his players.
It is well known that Mark van Bommel was no child of sadness as a player. In 123 Bundesliga games for FC Bayern, the Dutchman conceded 40 yellow cards and three yellow-red cards.
“Everyone knows me as a player, I have received a few yellow cards,” says the 44-year-old, who has also been cautioned as VfL coach most recently in the Champions League at OSC Lille (0:0). His team obviously likes it colourful as well: With 18 yellow cards, VfL leads the Bundesliga’s caution statistics after Saturday’s matches. Is the coach rubbing off? Van Bommel defends himself: “I don’t have a squad that kicks everyone over or straddles them without end. “
Dennoch: On Saturday in the disappointing 1:3 against Borussia Mönchengladbach there were five cautions, Maxence Lacroix was even sent off with a yellow-red. In the Champions League, John Anthony Brooks and Josuha Guilavogui had already been shown the red card, although the latter’s was not justified.
Against Gladbach, however, the warnings were in order. Overall, however, van Bommel feels that things are too petty in the Bundesliga. “There are also decisions that are not yellow cards,” says the coach. “Sometimes I think if I had played now, I wouldn’t have finished a single game …” His wish for the referees: “You also have to have a sure instinct sometimes. “