The dream of Budapest is still alive. After losing 2-1 in Lyon last week, VfL Wolfsburg’s women’s team will be looking to avenge their defeat in Kiev in last year’s final and knock the holders out of the competition with a win in the second leg of their UWCL quarter-final on Wednesday (kick-off 18:15 CET). A 1-0 win would be sufficient for them to progress, as would any victory by a margin of two goals or more. The She-Wolves will be able to count on the support of their fans for this task, with AOK Stadion sold out for the much-anticipated match.
In his pre-match press conference on Tuesday, head coach Stephan Lerch discussed…
…getting the right balance: “We’re 2-1 behind, so it’s a case of being dominant at home and imposing our game. That will, of course, be very difficult against a real top side. We certainly can’t be too gung-ho and then leave spaces for the opposition at the back, and we’ve discussed exactly that. We want to show a reaction but, at the same time, balance is very important!”
…the crowd: “I’m very pleased that AOK Stadion is sold out and there’ll be a great atmosphere. We want to play our part in that by producing a committed performance that gets the crowd behind us. This is like a final for us, it’s a special game which we can allow ourselves to get excited about.”
…lessons from the first half at Lyon: “Perhaps we were a bit affected by the crowd, and communication may have played a role too. The players on the other side of the pitch couldn’t understand me. We worked through it and spoke about how we have to play with bravery and confidence against a team like that. Good body language and presence on the pitch are important – that’s exactly what we want to show from the word go tomorrow!”
…the importance of tactics: “Tactics certainly play a role but having the conviction to implement them in particular situations is equally – if not more – important. In a game of fine margins, attitude and desire are crucial factors. You need a good mixture of tactics and mentality: the whole package.”
