Fabian Reese stepped back onto the pitch at the Olympiastadion to a relentless chorus of boos.
During the 2-1 defeat for VfL Wolfsburg against Hertha BSC, the 28-year-old forward was targeted by home supporters during the pre-match pitch inspection, warm-ups, and every single ball touch throughout the fixture, welt.de reported.
The reception marked the player’s first appearance in the capital since his summer transfer. Reese joined VfL Wolfsburg from Hertha BSC for a reported eight million euro transfer fee, instantly transforming into a primary target for the club’s fanbase following his departure.
Johanna Grünewald watched the match from the stands and condemned the sustained heckling. I am still speechless about what happened today. That crossed every line for me,
Grünewald wrote on her Instagram profile, which has nearly 26,000 followers, as quoted by welt.de. She added, For us as a family, that was simply terrible.
Grünewald also addressed supporters who placed blame on the player, writing that anyone making such claims should question how much humanity remains in the situation, according to welt.de. n-tv.de noted that Grünewald also expressed gratitude toward individuals who offered isolated kind words during the ordeal.
Following the match, Reese appeared visibly frustrated and did not speak publicly, while subsequently disabling his personal Instagram account, n-tv.de reported. Teammates and coaching staff observed that the forward maintained his composure outwardly despite the intense hostility from the stands.
Wolfsburg captain Maximilian Arnold told reporters that Reese handled the hostile atmosphere well. Fabi took that very professionally. I didn’t have the feeling that it affected him that much,
Arnold said, according to welt.de. Teammate Muhammed Damar added that Reese simply took the pressure in stride.
VfL Wolfsburg coach Tobias Strobl also praised the forward’s performance on the pitch. Strobl stated that Reese managed the situation well, played energetically, maintained defensive discipline, and waited for his opportunities during an engaging match, welt.de reported.
Ahead of the fixture, Hertha BSC manager Stefan Leitl attempted to defuse the tension surrounding the match. Leitl noted that Reese delivered strong performances during his three years at the club and maintained his utmost respect, adding that no hard feelings remained on his part, welt.de reported.
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