Wolfsburg's new feeling: 'The team is the star!'

VfL Wolfsburg is embracing a newfound sense of camaraderie and collective spirit, a stark contrast to the internal strife and dashed expectations that plagued the club in recent years, ultimately leading to their Bundesliga relegation.

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Robert Glatzel comes in at halftime, doesn't start, gets the penalty, gives it to me - and we celebrate together. That's the path that must make us strong. I believe that's what has carried us through the first few weeks: It's not about who scores the goals. It's about: The team is the star!

The team's 1-0 victory over Hannover 96, sealed by a late penalty, underscored this shift. "Robert Glatzel comes in at halftime, doesn't start, gets the penalty, gives it to me - and we celebrate together. That's the path that must make us strong," said new signing Fabian Reese. "I believe that's what has carried us through the first few weeks: It's not about who scores the goals. It's about: The team is the star!"

Despite a mix of expensive new acquisitions and established national players, the internal atmosphere is noticeably improved. "If we only go into this league with 95 or 99 percent, it will be tight. But I have the feeling that everyone here gives 100 percent," stated new captain Hauke Wahl. He added that while tactical coordination is still developing, the team's energy and mutual support are palpable.

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If we only go into this league with 95 or 99 percent, it will be tight. But I have the feeling that everyone here gives 100 percent. I find that cool. Everyone makes mistakes. But you don't feel like they're left alone. Everyone infects each other a bit with this energy.

Coach Tobias Strobl acknowledged that the team's performance has not yet been fully convincing. "Such a win is an accelerator. We have extremely good individual players that we've brought in. You have to cap them under an idea. But I think you've already seen in the first two games that they do dirty work for each other." Wolfsburg is reportedly still interested in signing Swedish national player Alexander Bernhardsson from Holstein Kiel.

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Such a win is an accelerator. We have extremely good individual players that we've brought in. You have to cap them under an idea. But I think you've already seen in the first two games that they do dirty work for each other.