In an interview with BILD am Sonntag, Wolfsburg coach Florian Kohfeldt talks about the new VfL striker Max Kruse, his corona disease and the art of uniting a team behind an idea.
BILD am SONNTAG: Mr. Kohfeldt, you have been corona positive since the beginning of the week. How are you?
Florian Kohfeldt (39): Thanks for asking. Except for slight symptoms, I am mostly fine.
Will you be able to sit on the bench on Sunday?
I am in contact with the health department and might be able to test myself free. I haven’t given up hope yet.
If not – how will communication with the team go?
I will then watch the game on the laptop and of course be connected to our bank and will also have an influence on the game. But I leave the basic coaching and the speech to my assistant trainer Vincent Heilmann.
You are in a relegation battle with VfL.
It’s correct. But at least we can see that in the last six or seven weeks we’ve finally been able to create goalscoring chances systematically and consistently.
Not before?
No. There was a phase where we were very dependent on individual quality.
Why?
We were in a very difficult phase and, to be honest, we’re not out of it yet. In late autumn we had a losing streak (8 lost games in a row; ed.), which cannot only be explained with bad luck. That would be way too cheap.
Photo: Swen Pförtner/dpa
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/florian-kohfeldt-trainiert-seit-dem-26-oktober-den-vfl-wolfsburg-c2bb2dcdfa57485b8b1a8636d4bad139-79650174/Bild/2.bild. jpeg”/> Florian Kohfeldt has been training at VfL Wolfsburg since October 26Photo: Swen Pförtner/dpa
But?
We didn’t have a game idea that the team could unite behind – both as a group and as a footballer. The anchors were missing. That’s why I’m now happy about our development as a team, without being able to say that we’re out of the woods in the table.
At the end of October you took over VfL from Mark van Bommel and started with three wins. Then followed eleven competitive games without a threesome. When did you realize: Oha, this is going to be harder than you thought?
At 0:3 in Mainz on December 4th.
Why?
Because I didn’t feel like we had the right attitude towards the game. Even before that. That’s when I realized that what characterized the team last season – above all passionate, aggressive defense – is no longer there. I knew then that we had to establish a new idea in the team. But something like this takes time.
What do you mean by “attitude” and “idea”?
The attitude, the identity of the group, is more important than anything else, more important even than tactics. I call it “attitude” so as not to have to say “attitude” because that would sound very negative. And it’s not exactly the same either. I’ve experienced a professional attitude from every player I’ve worked with. But attitude is less individual, it’s the will to come together as a group and have an idea of how to perform and win a game. That has to be worked out.
How?
By exemplifying the attitude as a coach, but also demanding it. And you have to be able to justify them well. I can’t say: “You always have to win!” Then the players ask: “Tell us how!” I have to give the team the means to do this, create a mixture of content and emotionality.
The squad is actually put together for an attack on the European Cup places. Did the individual parts not fit together?
I would put it this way: I did not manage to put the existing group together in such a way that it was successful without additional training work and without implementing a new game idea.
Now that was complicated.
You see, in December we only had games and hardly any time to practice. So I could only make personnel decisions …
… so use players or put them on the bench.
Exactly. But asking why it didn’t work is moot. It was clear: we have to develop a new idea of how we want to play football. And so we started on December 28th with ten days of preparation for the second half of the season. The first successes are now visible.
How is the new idea?
Combination football structured forward with the goal of finding the pace action. And in the game against the ball, as before, aggressive, fastest possible ball retrieval.
And what was the wrong idea before?
There was less one wrong idea. It was more that the team didn’t really agree on what the best idea to play football is. And behind such a clear idea we have now reunited them. Then she looked for it herself. And then I can start measuring a player by his actions on the pitch again.
Photo: ANNEGRET HILSE / REUTERS
” data-zoom-src=”https://bilder.bild.de/fotos/in-21-spiele-fuer-den-vfl-wolfsburg-celebrated-kohfeldt-six-victories-in addition-come-three-draws- und-zwoelf-ni-7a774683a4bb42dab14f164bdf8df0ac-79650220/Bild/2.bild.jpg”/> In 21 games for VfL Wolfsburg, Kohfeldt celebrated six wins. There are also three draws and twelve defeatsPhoto: ANNEGRET HILSE / REUTERS
How much doubt, including self-doubt, did you have during this difficult phase? You had previously been dismissed from your heart club Werder Bremen in the summer – one game day before the end of the season.
Doubt? That’s a big word. I tend to question things, especially myself. I actually do that every week, but especially in December, of course. I felt a lot of support from the team and especially from the management, so there was no strong self-doubt. I always had the feeling that we would get out of the situation together. I never felt incapacitated.
Can a coach show weaknesses in front of his team?
Of course!
Do you?
Clear. Part of a good working relationship is that the trainer can also say: “Hey, guys, maybe I was wrong about that.” At best not every week, but sometimes it has to be possible. Empathy is an important part of my leadership style.
You have your old companion Max Kruse back. You worked with him in Bremen for two years.
I am very glad that he came to us in winter. He is good for us.
Do you have a friendly relationship or a professional one?
A professional that is characterized by high sympathy. It’s a myth that we’re great friends. We like each other, definitely, but actually a lot of my players do.
Did you wish for him?
The idea of bringing in Max Kruse was a management suggestion. At VfL Wolfsburg, the club signs players and not the coach. That is a good thing. But I certainly didn’t resist. (laughs)
You’re 39, which is still young for a coach. In an interview you said: “I left Flo in Bremen.” Did you have to grow up for Wolfsburg?
It makes a lot of sense for everyone to keep evolving. And there are moments when I react more calmly than I used to – in situations on the pitch, but also with the team in the dressing room. But that has more to do with practical knowledge than with the environment.
That’s called getting older…
(laughs) Right! But still, this emotionality, which is sometimes interpreted as youthful, is an important part of me, without it I wouldn’t be authentic. I’m in my fifth year as head coach, so you’ve already experienced one or the other situation and know how to deal with it. If that’s growing up – well and good. But calm down – never.
They are considered frustration eaters. Does the refrigerator door stay closed more often with the quieter Florian Kohfeldt?
(smiles) Yes, I made progress there too. I have it better under control than in Bremen.
What is there if it still has to be?
I’m not a candy type. Something savory.
