VfL Wolfsburg welcome AS Saint-Etienne to the Volkswagen Arena in their final UEFA Europa League group game on Thursday 12 December (kick-off 21:00 CET). The Green-and-Whites have already secured their place in the knockout stages of the competition, winning 1-0 at Oleksandriya last month to banish any fears of missing out on the last 32.
Head coach Oliver Glasner shared his thoughts on the visit of Saint-Etienne at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference.
Glasner on…
…the last few days: “The atmosphere in the dressing room and on the training pitch has been very good. That shows we all have the same objective - to play good, successful football. We obviously know there are a lot of games we could have won which we didn’t. We need to get to the bottom of why that was. It’s important to learn from it, and that’s something we all want to do.”
…tomorrow’s squad: “We’re the only German team to have qualified early for the Europa League knockout stages. That’s why the likes of Wout Weghorst, Maximilian Arnold, William and Jeffrey Bruma - who have all put in an enormous effort - won’t be in the squad. Admir Mehmedi will also be given a rest after his recent absence through injury.
“Felix Klaus had to pull out of the final training session after feeling a twinge in his thigh. It’s nothing serious but we don’t want to take any risks. We want to give several players a bit of match practice ahead of our last few Bundesliga games of the year.”
…the Wolves’ possible line-up: “I can tell you this much: Daniel Ginczek will make his first start of the season - and his European debut - after his long injury lay-off. Paulo Otavio will also make his first start of the campaign and Xaver Schlager will return to the starting line-up.”
…changes to the starting XI: “I feel the changes give us a better chance of winning the game and thereby finishing top of the group. We’re also relying on the other game, though. The players in question are pushing for a place in the starting eleven, so it needed no second thought.”
