Wolfsburg: Champions League candidates?
Wolfsburg - While VfL Wolfsburg's romp to the Bundesliga title in 2009 may not seem very long ago, the club's last foray into European competition in the ensuing season doubtless feels like an all-too distant memory for the Wolves' faithful.
Heading in the right direction
Now however, recent results have allowed them to dream of continental adventures once more.
Expectations had been put on ice following defeat at home to struggling promoted outfit Eintracht Braunschweig on Matchday 8, but that reverse appears to have been the catalyst they needed to get their campaign back up and running. “I think we’re still making up for it,” admitted . “We’ve got a long way to go yet, but we’re going give everything to try to win every game.”
The team has chalked up two successive victories since losing to their Lower Saxony rivals to lie sixth in the table, just a point behind fourth-placed Borussia Mönchengladbach. “It’s fantastic, there are no two ways about it,” said sporting director Klaus Allofs after Saturday's 3-0 triumph over Werder Bremen. “It’s great to see that we’re developing step by step.”
Been there before
Nevertheless, despite the side winning back-to-back games for the first time since April, Allofs is urging caution, perhaps unsurprising given the Wolves' inconsistency in recent years: “If we lose two in a row, then we slip right back down into the lower regions."
That sequence has, however, lightened the mood considerably in the Wolfsburg camp, with striker hailing “one of our best ever best performances,” before adding: “It was a fantastic display from us and a look at the table makes for very happy reading.” The Croatian has certainly played his part in the upswing, having netted five times and provided one assist already this term
Strong squad
Arnold’s emergence is also providing a source of optimism as the club eyes a return to the European stage and the 19-year-old admitted that “I got goosebumps,” after he was afforded a standing ovation on Saturday evening. Add the likes of playmaker , and into the mix and the potential for success is clear to see.
Only time will tell whether or not Wolfsburg truly have the wherewithal to fulfil their promise, but the 4-0 thrashing of FC Schalke 04 on Matchday 2 is as clear an indicator as any of the Wolves' destructive power when they get things right. Eintracht Frankfurt, their opponents on Matchday 11, beware.
See Wolfsburg's three goals and the other 29 scored on Matchday 10, courtesy of the Bundesliga's official YouTube channel:
