Despite the failures of Pajor and Wolter: Wolfsburg against Geneva clear favorites
Two offensive failures within a week were tough for VfL Wolfsburg and yet he is the clear favorite on Wednesday in the Champions League against Servette Geneva (6.45 p.m. live on DAZN) in the domestic AOK stadium. The Wolfsburg women also want to win a victory for Ewa Pajor (knee surgery) and Pia-Sophie Wolter (cruciate ligament tear). On the pitch, said captain Svenja Huth, “we want to tear ourselves apart for these players too. That is how we will approach it in the coming weeks and months.” The Wolfsburg women want to live up to the role of favorites. “The coaching team showed us what qualities Geneva has if you let them be made possible,” said Huth, who appealed: “But we have to focus on ourselves, because in the end it is up to us how strong the opponent is . ” After the 2-2 in Freiburg, the captain counted on her team – and got a prompt reaction. Against Chelsea, but also against Cologne. “We did not fall apart in London after an initial phase and a deficit, but fought our way in and brought a show of energy and will to the field. Against Cologne it was better again.”
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It is not always easy, “because the opponents resist, stand deep and fight with all means that is our claim, so we have to go into every game, no matter what competition it is about.”
Before the group stage start in the Champions League against Chelsea (3: 3) to the VfLerinnen last week to cope with the failure of top striker Pajor. And even before the duel against Geneva there was bad news with Wolter’s injury, both of which will be absent for months. “Two big injuries so quickly in a row are a big shock for the players concerned, but also for us as a team“, regrets Huth. The 30-year-old now sees it as her task to move as a team” even closer together and to absorb that as a collective. We applaud the players well and show them that they are still with us anyway. “
Stroot: “Geneva are not a typical team”
What kind of opponent will Wolfsburg meet on Wednesday? Servette Geneva has been playing in the top league in Switzerland since 2018 and won the Women’s Super League for the first time in 2021. In the current season, coach Eric Severac’s team is in third place in the table after five match days with 12 points behind FC Zurich and the Grasshopper Club. At the start of the group phase, the Geneva women with 0: 3 against Juventus Turin. “I saw a team that played extremely well and took on building up the game,” said VfL coach Tommy Stroot, who thinks Geneva is not a typical team for Switzerland. Why is that? Stroot: “There are also a lot of foreign players in the squad who go into the duels with good spirits.”
On Wednesday, defender Sara Doorsoun will be back in the squad for the first time after muscular problems. “That is an enrichment for us. Due to the further failures we will also fill the squad with U20 players,” confirms Stroot, who continues to warn after winning the point in London: “That will only have real value if we continue to do our homework of the group. ” The claim is very clear, “to get six points against Geneva and we will start on Wednesday.”