Struggles for Kovac as Wolfsburg Loses in Gladbach - Cup Expert's Misfortune
The Bundesliga has seen a tough period for Lower Saxony, with head coach Niko Kovac (52) becoming the focal point of criticism. Despite being a renowned DFB Cup expert with a remarkable record, Kovac's recent run with VfL Wolfsburg has been less than impressive. The DFB Cup Round of 16 match against Borussia Mönchengladbach presented a unique opportunity for redemption.
The cup specialist falls short
With an impressive 23 wins in 25 DFB Cup games as a coach, Kovac's track record in this competition is outstanding. His achievements as a player (winning the cup with Bayern in 2003) and as a coach (twice with Frankfurt and Bayern) underscore his expertise. However, as the article points out, past achievements don't count in the present.
The 1-0 deficit
Great expectations were surrounding the 39,827 spectators at the "Foals" stadium in Gladbach. Kovac attempted a fresh approach, introducing changes in four positions compared to the Bochum encounter (1-3). Despite the crowd's anticipation, things didn't go as planned. Florian Neuhaus' 120th-minute goal sealed the outcome in favor of Gladbach, making VfL defender Cédric Zesiger look old as his header found Manu Koné, advancing Borussia Mönchengladbach to the quarter-finals.
Kovac facing challenges with Arnold
There have always been tensions between Kovac and midfield strategist Maximilian Arnold (29). Despite Arnold's numerous merits in Wolves' history, his relationship with the coach has soured, negatively impacting his status and playing time.
Struggling to find momentum
The match between Wolfsburg and Gladbach showcased a lack of excitement. Both teams struggled to create scoring opportunities, with Christoph Kramer coming close for Gladbach and Joakim Maehle having a miss for Wolfsburg in the first half. A series of events including injuries and rotations made the game less enticing.
Chances go amiss
As the clock ticked down, Tiago Tomás' opportunity to put Wolfsburg ahead in the 86th minute was thwarted by an offside call. Later, Jonas Wind had a double chance to secure a place in the quarter-finals, but his attempts were saved and missed, allowing Gladbach to take advantage in the 120th minute.
The final moments
Wolfsburg missed out on several opportunities to win or force a draw in regular time and extra time, ultimately leading to Manu Koné's goal in the 120th minute. Despite Kovac's best efforts, VfL Wolfsburg succumbed to the defeat, ending their chances in the DFB Cup.
- Despite being a well-known DFB Cup expert with an outstanding record, Niko Kovac has had difficulty leading VfL Wolfsburg to victory.
- Tensions between Kovac and Maximilian Arnold have affected Arnold's playing time and relationship with the coach.
- The match between Wolfsburg and Gladbach lacked excitement as both teams struggled to generate scoring opportunities.
- A series of injuries and rotations impacted the flow of the game, weakening the crowd's anticipation.
- In the final moments of the match and in extra time, Wolfsburg missed out on several chances that could have resulted in a different outcome.
Enrichment Data: Niko Kovač is, in fact, the head coach of Borussia Dortmund and not VfL Wolfsburg. While his performance in this context is not discussed in the article, his recent stint with Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League play-off match against Sporting CP is noteworthy. Borussia Dortmund secured a 0-0 draw against Sporting CP, going through to the next round with a 3-0 aggregate score. In a post-match interview, Kovač praised his team's defensive performance and concentration while acknowledging the need to be more efficient in converting chances.
Feel free to explore the topic further for more in-depth information about Niko Kovač and his coaching career.
