analyse
VfL Wolfsburg sets an exclamation mark with its tenth DFB Cup victory in a row. This has a lot to do with a damaged self-image.
Basically, the inscription on the winning T-shirt was a subtle indication of what motivated everyone at VfL Wolfsburg on this very special day. “Oops,” it said in white letters on a black background. Shown on the front are ten trophies in green – and in capital letters: “We did it again”.
Yes, the female footballers from the factory club – whose men haven’t produced any success stories for years – have done it again: They’ve won the women’s DFB Cup in a piecemeal manner. A title that goes to the Autostadt like on an assembly line.
“Changing of the guard” as an emotive word
And yet, before this year’s final against FC Bayern, which the series winner would ultimately win 2-0, the notion of a changing of the guard was in the air. The championship has gone to Munich three times in the last four years. Nevertheless, from Wolfsburg’s perspective, there is more to describing the shift in power with this term.
Leader Alexandra Popp even described the “Wolfsburg bad word of the year” as “disrespectful”. Therefore, the eleventh cup victory was a satisfaction for the city, club and location. It was not for nothing that the national team captain pounded the grass with both fists at the final whistle.
There hasn’t been a titleless season for Wolfsburg since 2012
As if the “Lead Wolf” wanted to make it clear once again with her spontaneous reaction what this title meant to her. “That’s an extremely big relief,” said the leader and self-critically noted: “We know that we have the quality. It’s questionable why we didn’t bring that to the pitch in the league.” The exclamation mark is all the more important: “VfL Wolfsburg is not gone.” There hasn’t been a titleless season since 2012. This series also lasts for Popp and co.
The 33-year-old revealed that things had been extremely toxic during the training sessions over the last few days. Even the otherwise level-headed coach Tommy Stroot asked the residents of the cathedral city to “turn a blind eye” as a precaution. As a precaution, he addressed all those who couldn’t sleep at night because of the noise: “It was us! We’ll enjoy it. There’s no stopping us.”
The 35-year-old assured in the press conference that this victory was the one “that feels best.” Stroot has managed to give his team full focus on this final for two weeks, to concentrate all their strengths, but at the same time not to lose their head: The result was a brilliant fighting performance with which the “Wolfs” dogged themselves in this task.
Bayern’s first defeat since December
However, it was not without reason that the FC Bayern players missed the double. When midfielder Sarah Zadrazil came into the mixed zone, her expression looked empty: “Wolfsburg were more aggressive, more biting. It’s a real shame, we have to learn from it. When we threw everything forward, we should have made it 1-2. “
But without a goal, the showdown was almost tense – unlike the majority of women’s finals in Cologne-Müngersdorf. Stroot still wanted to see “Champions League quality”.
His counterpart, Alexander Straus, seemed deeply affected: “In the end, it also depends on: Do you want to act or react.” The Norwegian held a minute-long monologue about the imponderables, struggled with the loss of the ball and reminded his team that “you don’t get ten clear chances against Wolfsburg.”
The first half reminded the 48-year-old of the rough weeks at Bayern shortly before Christmas – the first defeat since a 0-1 against Ajax Amsterdam on December 20th last year was logically suffered by the German champions.
Bavaria with the handbrake, Wolfsburg on the accelerator
In the fire-red jerseys, a few top performers stood next to them: the erratic Giulia Gwinn at the back, the ineffective Pernille Harder at the front or the deregistered Lea Schüller. The diverse audience, who had gotten into the mood at the fan and family festival on the sun-drenched stadium lawns, were surprised that the series winner from the Autostadt was the only one standing on the accelerator.
Bayern had the handbrake on it – and were never really able to release it. “We seemed a little empty,” said Straus, “we’ll try again next year.” His team lacked finals experience, “maybe that will give us a profit for next season.”
Focus on changer Oberdorf
Then Lena Oberdorf also plays on the Bayern campus. As is well known, the midfielder, who moved to Munich in the summer for a record fee, constantly pushed her team forward, dominated the midfield and repeatedly pushed for a finish herself.
“In a game like this under the spotlight, that shows something,” praised Stroot: “She is world-class.” The 22-year-old obviously seemed extremely relieved: “It was all the more important to me today to show that I play for VfL Wolfsburg and that I’m really leaving my last shirt behind.”
Grohs error on the first goal
The league leader couldn’t cope at all with the dominant, powerful and robust performance of the cup series winner that she embodied, especially in the first half. However, Bayern goalkeeper Maria Luisa Grohs helped Jule Brand make it 1-0. “I saw him too late. That was a stupid touchdown – it’s better if I hold a ball like that,” admitted Grohs.
Brand was surprised: “It wasn’t the prettiest shot, but somehow it rolled in.” Straus even believed afterwards that his goalkeeper would save “99 out of 100 such balls”.
Janssen with a farewell gift
The unmarked Dominique Janssen headed the score 2-0 from a corner and shouted her joy because the Dutch defender couldn’t have imagined a better parting gift before her move to England. “Take off Bayern’s Lederhosen,” chanted the Wolfsburg fans in the south stand.
And because Merle Frohms parried a Schüller header (58th), the VfL national goalkeeper also played her part in winning the 50th cup game in a row. She explained afterwards: “We took our hearts in both hands.” And that’s why the trophy deserves to be in permanent possession.
