Ahead of the first game in Wolfsburg’s crucial week of football, the players were given a wake-up call. Manager Dieter Hecking had strong words about the performance at training from his side and called for concentration ahead of the Europa League quarter-final first leg against SSC Napoli tonight (21:05 CEST).
Former club of Diego Maradona, Napoli currently sit fourth in Serie A and have a lot of stars up front. “Their front line isn’t unfamiliar: Hamsik, Higuain, Mertens,” said midfielder Maximilian Arnold. “We already know some of the names at Napoli.”
Hecking: “I believe that we overcome this hurdle”
However, VfL have also made a name for themselves in Europe this season. Wolfsburg have been the best team in the Bundesliga since the winter break and are clear in second place behind FC Bayern. In the Europa League, they have already beaten Sporting Lisbon and Inter Milan – two big clubs who were on the end of Wolfsburg’s dominance. In the DFB Cup, the Wolves are in the semi-finals for the third season in a row and look to have been drawn against the easiest side left in the tournament in third division Arminia Bielefeld.
“Napoli will be a tough nut to crack,” said Hecking in an interview with NDR. “But the way we are playing at the moment I believe that we can overcome this hurdle.” The club has built up the confidence.
The aim is clear: the team should win the second trophy in the club’s history after winning the title back in 2009. And they still have two chances to do that. “The team have had a great season so far and we would like to continue that until 30th May,” said Hecking looking ahead to the cup final in Berlin. “Currently I don’t see any reason why we can’t do that.” The Europa League final takes place three days before that in Warsaw.
Napoli want to build on success under Maradona
SSC Napoli will also want to be there. Their win against VfB Stuttgart in the 1988/1989 UEFA Cup final, in which Maradona played, hasn’t been forgotten. Since then, the club has experienced a lot of ups and downs. After going bankrupt, the club played in the third division for a period of time before returning to Serie A in 2007 and qualifying for the Champions League in 2010/2011. The southern Italian club wanted to be there this season too but were knocked out by Athletic Bilbao in the qualifiers.
The team have faltered recently in the league and were also knocked out of the cup. However, things will hopefully be better on manager Rafael Benitez’s 55th birthday. VfL will congratulate him tonight but won’t want to hand him and his side a present.
Ahead of the first game in Wolfsburg’s crucial week of football, the players were given a wake-up call. Manager Dieter Hecking had strong words about the performance at training from his side and called for concentration ahead of the Europa League quarter-final first leg against SSC Napoli tonight (21:05 CEST).
Former club of Diego Maradona, Napoli currently sit fourth in Serie A and have a lot of stars up front. “Their front line isn’t unfamiliar: Hamsik, Higuain, Mertens,” said midfielder Maximilian Arnold. “We already know some of the names at Napoli.”
Hecking: “I believe that we overcome this hurdle”
However, VfL have also made a name for themselves in Europe this season. Wolfsburg have been the best team in the Bundesliga since the winter break and are clear in second place behind FC Bayern. In the Europa League, they have already beaten Sporting Lisbon and Inter Milan – two big clubs who were on the end of Wolfsburg’s dominance. In the DFB Cup, the Wolves are in the semi-finals for the third season in a row and look to have been drawn against the easiest side left in the tournament in third division Arminia Bielefeld.
“Napoli will be a tough nut to crack,” said Hecking in an interview with NDR. “But the way we are playing at the moment I believe that we can overcome this hurdle.” The club has built up the confidence.
The aim is clear: the team should win the second trophy in the club’s history after winning the title back in 2009. And they still have two chances to do that. “The team have had a great season so far and we would like to continue that until 30th May,” said Hecking looking ahead to the cup final in Berlin. “Currently I don’t see any reason why we can’t do that.” The Europa League final takes place three days before that in Warsaw.
Napoli want to build on success under Maradona
SSC Napoli will also want to be there. Their win against VfB Stuttgart in the 1988/1989 UEFA Cup final, in which Maradona played, hasn’t been forgotten. Since then, the club has experienced a lot of ups and downs. After going bankrupt, the club played in the third division for a period of time before returning to Serie A in 2007 and qualifying for the Champions League in 2010/2011. The southern Italian club wanted to be there this season too but were knocked out by Athletic Bilbao in the qualifiers.
The team have faltered recently in the league and were also knocked out of the cup. However, things will hopefully be better on manager Rafael Benitez’s 55th birthday. VfL will congratulate him tonight but won’t want to hand him and his side a present.
