In the aftermath of their heartbreaking DFB Cup elimination, VfL Wolfsburg's coach, Niko Kovač, couldn't help but lament the missed opportunities. "Football is a freakin' rollercoaster, man," he said, "it's beautiful and brutal at the same time. We experienced both today - we're grumbly, and rightfully so."
The Wolves had dominated the second half and extra time against Borussia Mönchengladbach, but a last-minute goal from Manu Kone sealed their seventh consecutive away defeat. "We could've nailed it in the 90th minute, just like they did in extra time," Kovač explained. "But that's football, baby. You win some, you lose some, and sometimes, you just plain and simple don't get what you deserve."
Striker Jonas Wind had two glorious opportunities to put Wolfsburg ahead in the 90th minute and extra time, only to miss the mark. "You should be fussin' with satisfaction for the performance, but not the result," Kovač said. "It's a cruel game - you got to give a little more to get a smidgen less, 'cause what's a smidgen with nothing at all, right?"
Meanwhile, Borussia Mönchengladbach's cup dream is blooming like a desert flower. "The road's gettin' shorter and shorter, the chances are growin'," sporting director Roland Virkus declared with a sparkle in his eye. "Then, old buddy, we certainly stand a chance, no question about it."
Their victory against Bayern Munich and defending champions RB Leipzig in the previous round boosted their confidence. "It wasn't a feast, but who the hell cares? What counts is movin' forward, and we did that," Virkus said.
With top-tier teams biting the dust early in the tournament, gladbach's captain, Julian Weigl, is hopeful. "The cup's got a mind of its own this year, man. Big names have already switched off. So, if we keep our cool, who knows - maybe we can dance under the berlin skies for the first time in 28 years."
While the information provided doesn't delve into Borussia Mönchengladbach's performance against Wolfsburg, we can infer that their recent victories and early eliminations among top-tier teams might give them a strategic advantage in the DFB Cup. If they maintain their cohesion and spirit, the Lower Rhine might just witness their first title win since 1995.
