The deep crisis at VfL Wolfsburg worsened after Sunday's 0-4 defeat to VfB Stuttgart. Polish national team goalkeeper Kamil Grabara, despite several saves, could not prevent his team from a heavy loss that pushed the club into the relegation zone. The disastrous results have left coach Thomas Bauer's job hanging by a thread, and German media are speculating about a return to the coaching bench for experienced Dieter Hecking.

Wolfsburg's defeat in Stuttgart

VfL Wolfsburg lost 0-4, leading to the club's drop into the relegation playoff spot and sparking a wave of criticism towards the coaching staff.

Kamil Grabara under fire

The Polish goalkeeper conceded four goals, and the German press rated his performance poorly, despite several good saves.

Dieter Hecking candidate for coach

With Thomas Bauer's dismissal almost certain, Dieter Hecking has become the favorite to take the helm at Wolfsburg.

Sunday's series of matches in the German Bundesliga was marked by the sporting collapse of VfL Wolfsburg. Thomas Bauer's charges were completely dominated by VfB Stuttgart, losing away 0-4. The match was effectively decided in the first half, which the press called a "disastrous capitulation." The main architect of the hosts' success was Jamie Leweling, who scored twice. Relegation stared Wolfsburg in the face when, after the 24th matchday, the team officially slipped to 16th place, meaning they must play in the relegation playoff. Polish goalkeeper Kamil Grabara, although not directly at fault for all the conceded goals, was harshly criticized by German sports services for a lack of game-saving interventions. The situation of coach Thomas Bauer is now critical. The management of the Lower Saxony club is analyzing the possibility of immediately terminating his contract to give the team a "new broom effect" before the decisive phase of the season. The most serious candidate for the rescue job is Dieter Hecking, who already coached the "Wolves" from 2012 to 2016, winning the German Cup with them. Media outlets like RP Online suggest negotiations could conclude with an agreement as early as the beginning of the coming week. Meanwhile, Stuttgart, thanks to the excellent performance of German internationals, solidified its position in the upper reaches of the table, showcasing a modern and offensive style of play. VfL Wolfsburg are the 2009 German champions. The club, 100% owned by the Volkswagen automotive group, was long considered a financial powerhouse in the league, but the current crisis is the most serious since the fight for survival in 2018.Emotions also ran high in the lower divisions. In the 2. Bundesliga, a key clash in the battle for survival saw Eintracht Braunschweig lose at home to Preußen Münster 1-2. The hosts lost their lead in just four minutes, sparking fan anger. This defeat worsens Braunschweig's already difficult situation at the bottom of the table. Meanwhile, in the 3. Liga, Munich's "Lions" (TSV 1860) are vowing to fight for a return to higher levels, despite skepticism expressed by Kevin Volland. The entirety of Sunday's reports from Germany paints a picture of a weekend full of drama in the lower regions of the professional league tables. Results of key Sunday matches: VfB Stuttgart 4:0 VfL Wolfsburg; E. Brunszwik 1:2 Preußen Münster; FC St. Pauli 1:0 Hoffenheim „Wenn man vier Gegentore kassiert, kann man keine positiven Bewertungen erwarten. Es ist ein schmerzhafter Abend für uns alle.” (When you concede four goals, you can't expect positive ratings. It's a painful evening for all of us.) — Kamil Grabara

Mentioned People

  • Kamil Grabara — Goalkeeper for the Polish national team and VfL Wolfsburg, who conceded four goals in the match against Stuttgart.
  • Thomas Bauer — Coach of VfL Wolfsburg, whose position is threatened after a series of disastrous results for the team.
  • Dieter Hecking — Experienced coach, mentioned as the main candidate to succeed Bauer at Wolfsburg.