Wolfsburg: 2019/20 season so far
Active on three fronts this season, Wolfsburg have had plenty of highs but some lows too. How has Oliver Glasner's first year in Germany gone so far?
bundesliga.com examines how the Wolves have followed up last season's top-six finish…
Who they signed: With Bruno Labbadia stepping down after leading his team to sixth in the standings and a return to European football, Oliver Glasner was tasked with building on his predecessor's impressive 14-month spell in charge.
The new arrival had led LASK to a runners-up finish behind Salzburg in Austria, and a couple of familiar faces would join him in Germany. Salzburg midfielder Xaver Schlager was the headline summer signing, while Brazilian Joao Victor followed his coach from Linz to Wolfsburg. Right-back Kevin Mbabu joined from Swiss champions Young Boys, Brazilian left-back Paulo Otavio arrived from third-tier Ingolstadt, and Germany U21 attacker Lukas Nmecha linked up on loan from Manchester City.
What they expected: Labbadia was a tough act for Glasner to follow. Last season Wolfsburg were only three points off fourth place and a UEFA Champions League place – only 12 months after avoiding the drop via a promotion/relegation play-off for the second year running.
Wolfsburg managing director Jörg Schmadtke, however, said the club had been tracking their new Austrian coach for some time.
"We're getting a highly qualified coach and a real team player," Schmadtke promised. For his part, Glasner wanted to see "a very attractive style of football" played by his side. "We've recruited good players with strong characters," the new arrival said. "We want to continue defining ourselves by our character and mentality."
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How it played out: The Glasner era got off to a great start. The Wolves were second after Matchday 8, using a fresh 3-4-3 formation to set a club record run without defeat at the start of a season. They dropped to fourth a week later, but were still the only remaining unbeaten side in the Bundesliga with four wins and five draws.
The 2015 DFB Cup winners had conceded a league-low five goals in that time, but they finally came unstuck, 3-0 at Borussia Dortmund, on Matchday 10. That result came days after a 6-1 home loss against RB Leipzig in the cup, and was the second in a four-game losing streak in all competitions.
Wolfsburg's European exploits were taking their toll, and the Dortmund game also marked the start of a run of four Bundesliga defeats in five. Glasner's team had, however, advanced to the round of 32 in the UEFA Europa League. An injury-time win against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Matchday 15 – courtesy of a stunning Maximilian Arnold volley – soon stopped the rot in the league.
Watch: Wout Weghorst tactical analysis
At the halfway stage, Wolfsburg sat ninth in a tightly packed table, only six points off Dortmund in fourth. Along with Gladbach they boasted the best defence, with just 18 goals conceded in 17 matches. They started 2020 on the wrong end of the scoreline against Cologne and then Hertha. Since then, though, the Wolves have sharpened their fangs – climbing to seventh after winning three and drawing three of their last six games. Weghorst bagged a hat-trick against Hoffenheim during that period, and they also got past Swedish side Malmö to make the last 16 of the Europa League.
A switch to a four-at-the-back system – with USA international John Brooks often at the heart of the defence – seems to be paying off. In their final game before the league was suspended, Wolfsburg held high-flying RB Leipzig to a scoreless draw. That suggests that Glasner's charges are well primed to push for another top-six finish.
Key player: It's already been a long season for Wolfsburg, who have enjoyed their return to European football after a four-year absence. Captain Josuha Guilavogui and Arnold have impressed in midfield, with the Wolves winning all three games the latter has scored in. Arnold also has five assists this campaign, during which he celebrated his 200th Bundesliga appearance.
Wolfsburg have let in only 30 goals in 25 matches, with Belgian keeper Koen Casteels featuring in 17 of those after missing over two months through injury from September on. Pavao Pervan is an able deputy, but Casteels' importance to the club has become clear in recent months. The 27-year-old is a calming presence at the back – he saved all five shots he faced against Leipzig, for example – and was rewarded in December with a lengthy new contract.
"Koen has developed into one of the best goalkeepers in the world at Wolfsburg," said Schmadtke. "His quality and character are a huge support, and an example to the whole team."
Casteels has now played in over 100 Bundesliga games for the club, impressing in particular this season in victories over Gladbach and during a narrow defeat at defending champions Bayern. He also helped the Wolves pick up four points from the two games where they had a man sent off early on.
Best game: Wolfsburg were already showing signs of coming back into form by winning 4-2 at Paderborn and digging out a 1-1 draw with Fortuna Düsseldorf despite being down to 10 men for almost 45 minutes. Confirmation followed on Matchday 22, when Glasner's side boosted their European chances and closed in on Hoffenheim in the table after edging a five-goal thriller.
Watch: Wolfsburg's Wout-inspired win at Hoffenheim!
The visitors led three times in the game, with Weghorst netting two penalties before finally killing off the home team and completing his third Bundesliga hat-trick by getting a 71st-minute winner. The Netherlands international has now scored from all seven spot-kicks he's taken in the German top flight. More importantly – in the context of the club's season – he ended a personal scoring drought of 579 minutes in style.
Biggest surprise: Perhaps more of a verification of his talent than anything of a shock, Josip Brekalo has nonetheless emerged as one of Wolfsburg's most eye-catching performers this season. He currently has seven goals across all competitions, starting eight Europa League matches and delivering wonderful strikes in both legs of the win over Malmo.
Perhaps his potent finishing from distance is the surprise element this term, as the Croatian's three Bundesliga goals have all come from range. The 21-year-old has already matched his Bundesliga goals tally from each of the past two seasons, and he has also weighed in with four assists – despite only starting on 12 of his 21 appearances in the league. Expect to continue to be pleasantly surprised by his development.
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