VfL Wolfsburg suffered their first defeat of the 2. Bundesliga season. A late goal from Joel Chima Fujita in the 88th minute sealed a 1-0 loss away to FC St. Pauli on September 12, ending the Lower Saxony side's previously unbeaten start.

Sporting director Dieter Hecking responded swiftly with a clear message to the team. Ahead of the key home match against SV Darmstadt 98 on Friday, he made it plain that being nice is not enough for promotion. "Lieb und nett reicht nicht, um aufzusteigen," said the 61-year-old. The defeat in Hamburg dropped VfL to fifth place in the table, where the team now has eight points from five games and trails leaders Hertha BSC by seven points.

The current record

The record after five matchdays shows two wins, two draws, and now one defeat. With ten goals scored and seven conceded, the goal difference remains positive. The current top scorer is Fabian Reese with three goals. The recent form guide of LDWWD, however, shows a slight dip. Following a spectacular 5-2 away win at Karlsruher SC came a thrilling 4-4 draw with Energie Cottbus, before the blank in Hamburg.

Hecking's words target mental strength in decisive moments. Hamburg's late winner, which only came in the closing stages, revealed a certain carelessness in defence. Wolfsburg had previously scored in every match this season, but now the attack failed to find the net for the first time.

Looking ahead

Immediate promotion back to the Bundesliga is the club's stated season objective. The current table situation shows VfL is in the mix among the promotion contenders but has not yet closed the gap to the top. The next game against relegation-threatened SV Darmstadt 98, who sit in 16th place, offers a chance for an immediate response. A win would be important to relieve pressure on the players and cut the deficit to the direct promotion spots.

The team under coach Ralph Hasenhüttl must now prove it learns from setbacks. The individual quality in the squad is evident, as shown by the goal output and strong performances from players like Reese and Robert Glatzel. The overview of the entire squad highlights the team's depth. The key will be whether the defence becomes more solid and the team shows the necessary grit in tight games that Hecking referenced.

The match against Darmstadt on September 18 at the Volkswagen Arena is therefore a true benchmark. A victory would pave the way for a successful October, while another disappointment could further fuel discussions about the team's strength. Kick-off is at 6:30 PM.

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