First Team

“It meant a great deal”

Mathys Angely on his special start to the season.

There is little over a week to go before the Wolves play their first competitive game of the season in the DFB Cup first round. While Paul Simonis’ charges are coming to the end of the pre-season preparations, one member of the squad has already had a taste of competitive action this summer: Mathys Angely not only helped the Green-and-Whites’ U19s to a resounding win on Sunday, but he also celebrated a long-awaited personal success.

In this interview, the 18-year-old Frenchman takes stock of his first year at VfL Wolfsburg and looks ahead to the coming campaign.

Mathys Angely, congratulations on a successful start to the season with our U19 side. What was your view of the opening game on Sunday?

Mathys: “Thanks. It was a great experience, both for the team and me personally. It was fantastic to play the full 90 minutes. I hadn’t done that in a long time.”

The occasion was extra special because you also scored your first VfL goal. Even though it was one of many scored in that game, what did it mean to you?

Mathys: “It meant a great deal, to be honest. I was 16 the last time I scored a goal. This time, it was the second goal of the game, so it was an important moment – and it was a volley as well. So on the whole it really was a successful day for me.”

VfL-Player Mathys Angely dribbles with the ball against a player of Viktoria Berlin.

You’ve been training full-time with the first team since you’ve been in Wolfsburg. Last season you suffered a number of injuries and weren’t able to make it into a matchday squad for a Bundesliga game. Looking back, what’s your assessment of the past year?

Mathys: “It was difficult at times, especially at the start, because I didn’t undergo all the pre-season preparations at my old club. That meant that when I arrived I wasn’t in the best shape. The first six months were hard as a result, but I soon made some good friends in the team, like Aster, Kevin and Sebastiaan, who all helped me a lot. Things were a lot better in the second part of the year, despite the injuries.”

Are all the injury concerns behind you now?

Mathys: “Yes, definitely. I don’t have any problems anymore and I feel really good.”

Although you just played for the U19s, you’ve also featured heavily with the first team in pre-season. Does it feel like a fresh start for you, especially with a new head coach now?

Mathys: “Yes, I think you could say that. It was amazing to get so much game time in pre-season. Every minute helps me develop. I just want to keep working hard, both on and off the pitch, to ensure things continue like this so that I can eventually get my chance and help the team.”