The dispute over captain Maximilian Arnold's playing time has been resolved at VfL Wolfsburg. Head coach Tobias Strobl confirmed on Tuesday that the issue is no longer a major topic following an internal discussion.
"We talked about it internally and then it was no longer a big issue," Strobl said ahead of Saturday's away match at 1. FC Nürnberg. The public criticism from the 32-year-old had caused waves recently. Arnold stated during the international break: "I am simply not satisfied with the situation, plain and clear: 0.0 satisfied. That is not my standard." The veteran with 481 appearances for the club has started only once in the league this season.
Strobl stressed that the impact was greater in public than within the team. During public training sessions on Monday and Tuesday, Arnold reacted positively. The coach described him as an energy generator and very vocal in the sessions. Anyone who knows Arnold knows he gives 100 percent in every training session, Strobl said. This high level of effort in training is consistent with his past behavior.
Focus on Top Match
The team can now focus fully on the important away fixture. VfL Wolfsburg sits in fourth place in the 2. Bundesliga with 11 points from six matches, claiming a solid record of three wins, one draw, and one defeat. Their last five results read WWLDW. The team faces second-placed 1. FC Nürnberg on Saturday at 20:30. The match will be broadcast on Sky and RTL.
Current form provides reason for optimism. In the 4-1 home win against Havelse on October 1st, the attack showed its strength with a hat-trick from Muhammed Damar. The squad lineup and further statistics are available in the current squad section.
For Maximilian Arnold, the end of last season was marked by persistent groin issues. His battle for a starting spot now takes place in a team with offensive potency. The top scorer this season so far is Robert Glatzel with four goals. The clash in Nuremberg offers the next opportunity to continue the positive run.
Read the full report at dpa/lni
