Football: New Wolfsburg coach Strobl rejects comparisons to top managers

Tobias Strobl, the newly appointed coach of VfL Wolfsburg, has downplayed comparisons to celebrated figures like Germany's national team coach Julian Nagelsmann and former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp. At his introductory press conference, Strobl stated, "The first impulse is indeed: great. But the second impulse, the reality, is no. I am miles away from that."

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The first impulse is indeed: great. But the second impulse, the reality, is no. I am miles away from that.

Strobl, who previously coached third-division club SC Verl, has taken the helm at Wolfsburg following their relegation from the top flight. He succeeds Dieter Hecking, who has transitioned to the role of Sporting Director, making him Strobl's superior. Strobl's tenure at SC Verl was marked by an attractive style of football that nearly secured the team promotion to the second division, earning him recognition as a promising coaching talent.

His immediate task at Wolfsburg is to guide the team back to the top league after their demotion. Strobl acknowledged that this will require significant changes to the squad. "We have clarity on what we want. And we have clarity on what we need. And now the players must also fit together character-wise and fit VfL," he remarked regarding the upcoming transfer window.

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I want to be my best version.

While Strobl remained tight-lipped about specific transfer targets, including rumored moves for Robert Glatzel from Hamburger SV or veteran players like Maximilian Arnold and Christian Eriksen, he stressed the importance of assembling a team with the right character. His focus is on building a cohesive unit that aligns with the club's objectives for rebuilding and returning to prominence.

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We have clarity on what we want. And we have clarity on what we need. And now the players must also fit together character-wise and fit VfL.