published10. June 2022, 18:00
Renato Steffen went through difficult months at Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg. He now feels good again at the national team – and sharply criticizes the former coach Florian Kohfeldt.
- von
- Tobias Wedermann
(from Geneva)
The relationship with coach Florian Kohfeldt was particularly problematic. “I’m an honest guy and actually expect the same from my opponent,” says the 24-time national player.
PORTRAIT/regios24
The 30-year-old is now recharging his batteries at the national team before the summer holidays in order to attack fully again with regard to the World Cup in Qatar.
Pascal Muller/freshfocus
Seven of the last eight Bundesliga games without a minute – for Nati wing Renato Steffen it was a spring to forget at Wolfsburg. On Friday, the 30-year-old gave an honest insight into the past few months: “It was probably the most difficult phase of my career so far.” There was one reason above all: the now dismissed coach Florian Kohfeldt, who took over Wolfsburg in October last year.
“I’ve never experienced that I have such problems with a coach,” says Steffen. He is not someone who sits on his mouth and sometimes speaks up. “You have people in front of you who like something like that or not.” With Kohfeldt it was obviously the latter. “I’m an honest guy and actually expect the same from my opponent,” says the 24-time national player. If that’s not the case, one thing leads to another.
“Things didn’t go well for me against Portugal”
Steffen leaves it open how things will continue for him in his club: “I had four and a half beautiful and successful years in Wolfsburg, but the last six months have clouded this picture a bit.” He still has a year’s contract and will see how things go with VfL Wolfsburg, who introduced Niko Kovac as the new head coach. “For me it’s just important that I play.”
As a footballer, you also want to play football and especially with regard to the World Cup in Qatar, he wants to get into the rhythm. “Things didn’t go well for me against Portugal. I noticed that I was missing the playing rhythm of the last few weeks. I couldn’t get the performance I wanted,” says Steffen self-critically. But this should not be an excuse. In fact, he is happy that he was called up for the national team after this difficult time in the Bundesliga. “I had good conversations with the staff and the players here. It’s almost a pity that the time is now over and it’s going on vacation.”