It has now been almost ten years since the end of Dieter Hecking’s first spell as head coach at VfL. A total of 4,819 days lie between his first day at work at VfL Wolfsburg and his second first day as the club’s new head coach on Monday. “There’s a ten-year difference – you can’t compare the situation back then with the one now. A lot has happened – for me and for the club,” Hecking said on Wölfe TV. Nevertheless, the feeling immediately returned. “When I arrived and drove over the Mittelland Canal, that same feeling I had ten years ago came straight back. I felt very, very comfortable here.”
“Stabilise quickly”
When Hecking enters the press conference room and takes his seat between Dr. Sebastian Rudolph, chairman of the supervisory board, and VfL sporting director Pirmin Schwegler, it feels somewhat familiar – and yet the situation is completely different from back then. “The situation isn’t good, otherwise I wouldn’t be here,” is one of the first things Hecking says to the journalists in the packed media room. At the same time, he makes one thing clear: “I’m not a firefighter.” Since his previous spell in charge, he has continued to follow VfL regularly. In recent weeks, that attention has intensified even further. “As a coach, you have to keep yourself informed every week,” explains the old and new Green-and-White, adding: “The results of VfL Wolfsburg have always interested me.”
Whether in Hannover, Nürnberg, Mönchengladbach or Wolfsburg, the starting situations at Hecking’s previous coaching positions have always been very similar. “It was always the same situation: stabilise things as quickly as possible and then start building something.”
Support and demand
The coach who led the team to the 2015 DFB Cup already has an idea of what the team may be lacking. “The people who now find themselves in this situation probably didn’t imagine a few months ago that they would be in it,” he explains. “We have to address the psychological side. Fear holds you back, but we should still have the courage to go to Hoffenheim and win the game.”
There can be no more excuses for the away match. The aim is to deliver “the best possible performance” and to “clear our heads.” “And to rediscover the joy in this fantastic game that I’ve loved for more than 50 years. If I manage that, then the players will click as well.” Hecking’s expectations of his players are clear: “We want to support them, but they are also required to deliver. And they have to be ready to meet those demands. If they manage that, then everyone is welcome to contribute.”
The link: Benaglio
At Bochum, his previous club, the 61-year-old served not only as head coach but also as managing director. At VfL Wolfsburg, he deliberately does not want to take on that role in order to focus entirely on his coaching duties. Diego Benaglio has made himself available as the link. “From the supervisory board back to the pitch,” as Dr. Sebastian Rudolph commented at the press conference. The very same Benaglio whom Hecking once dropped to the bench during his first spell in charge. “He told me that anecdote – I wasn’t even really aware that I had taken him out of goal,” the new head coach said with a smile when asked about it. Frank Geideck and Murat Ural will join Hecking in Wolfsburg as assistant coaches. He previously worked with Geideck at Borussia Mönchengladbach and with Ural in Bochum. Familiar faces in a familiar environment – in a new constellation. In addition, it is planned that Julian Klamt, one of the existing assistants, will continue to support the coaching staff.
“Win back the credit we’ve lost”
The relationship between fans and the team was also a topic at Monday lunchtime’s press conference. Hecking said he had followed the discussions surrounding VfL and had sometimes found them very superficial. “VfL may not have the biggest fan base, but it’s one that lives with just as much passion as clubs with significantly more supporters.” In the current phase, however, Hecking stressed that the team above all bears the responsibility. “If we deliver the results and performances, I know the curve will be there again. And that the fans will also be there with that same passion to lead us towards our shared goal.” He added: “It’s up to us to win back the credit we’ve lost.”
