20/06 2005
Season review part V
- Andres D'Alessandro after his 1-0 against Hansa Rostock
Wolfsburg - Tackles and dead-ball situations were at the top of the program for VfL Wolfsburg in the training week after the 0-3 loss at Schalke 04. A victory over last-place Hansa Rostock had to be obtained at any cost, in order to gain the first points of the second round and of Thomas Strunz's time in office. No sooner said than done: With a nearly complete squad, the Wolves won 4-0 over the northern Germans, who appeared to be on their way down. Wolfsburg climbed from tenth to eighth place and would remain there for five more games.
Only one point in two games
The next game was at 1. FC Kaiserslautern. "Our 4-0 win over Rostock is nice and all, but if we lose now, everything is back to as it was", said Martin Petrov and demanded more concentration from all team members. Against the Red Devils, who after a weak first round had advanced to the best second round team in the league, Wolfsburg managed at least a partial success. Thanks to a compact defensive performance, VfL ended up with a 0-0 in what Gerets called a "poor game". A victory should have been possible; many chances arose, but they weren’t exploited.
The Wolves wanted to avoid this mistake seven days later in the new Borussia Park against Mönchengladbach. Simon Jentzsch explained his tactics: "The Gladbachers are under pressure. The longer it stays 0-0, the more nervous they will get. That’s precisely the time at which we have to take control of the game." The 1-0 for Borussians by Vaclav Sverkos three minutes before the end of the game showed, however, just how far apart theory and praxis can be from one another.
- Victory in the Lower Saxony derby: Petrov (back) and game winner Menseguez
Menseguez' goal makes the difference
After their ninth defeat in a row away from home, the Wolfsburg pros were still optimistic going into their Lower Saxony derby against Hanover 96, which they wanted to win at all costs.
And, in fact, with a intensity, skill and good bit of luck Gerets’ team managed to defeat their guests 1-0 on a shot from Juan Menseguez. The little whirlwind from Argentina scored the golden goal after only six minutes of play, putting his team on the path to victory. This time Wolfsburg made effective use of their opportunities...
- A dispirited Stefan Schnoor after the 1:5 in Bochum
1-5 in Bochum
The Wolves went on „Operation Ruhr Stadium“ on the 26th game of the season without Andres D'Alessandro, who had to return home for family reasons. VfL Bochum was in 17th place with their backs to the wall and needed every point they could get. Simon Jentzsch warned before the match: "Bochum is a very tough opponent which is fighting for its survival." And Bochum was in fact tough. With chilling effectiveness, they exploited nearly all the chances available to them and shot to a 4-0 lead at the half. The Wolves were shocked: never in their time in the national league had they fallen so far behind. Bochum was also strong in the second half, advancing the score to 5-0. Only Martin Petrov managed a last minute goal to end the game at 1-5. Pablo Thiam referred to the game afterwards as the "most bitter defeat I have experienced in the VfL."
- Was the goal by Thomas Brdaric in Mainz the turning point?
0-3 against the record holders
During the Easter holidays, the team had two weeks to think about what had gone wrong in their 1-5 loss to Bochum. After this defeat, which sent the Wolves back to tenth place, there was no longer any point thinking about the UEFA Cup.
Instead, it only made sense to concentrate on the next difficult task – for the 28th game of the season the VfL was travelling to FSV Mainz 05. The promoted team, still fighting to keep their place in the division, had ended a long losing streak and given themselves a small cushion at the bottom of the standings. So both teams were under pressure. In addition to Martin Petrov, seven other VfL players had to sit this game out. Erik Gerets hoped his team would compensate for the thinness of the personnel with redoubled efforts and teamwork.
And that is exactly is what his protégés did playing an extra-hard game despite obvious insecurity at the start, and landing a 2-0 victory through intelligent playmaking and plenty of fire in the belly. Once again their was a small hope of winning a place in the international standings. Sixth place was suddenly only four points away, the UEFA Cup was again within reach. Team spirit and the willingness to fight were once again present, but would the Wolves be able to triumph in their next game at 1. FC Nürnberg and finally end their crisis? You will find out in the sixth and final part of the season review!
