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Following victories over Makkabi Berlin and 1. FC Heidenheim in the DFB Cup and opening Bundesliga weekend respectively, VfL Wolfsburg are away to 1. FC Köln on Saturday 26 August (kick-off 15:30). Ahead of the fixture, Yannick Gerhardt spoke about the Wolves’ start to the season and the trip to Cologne.
Yannick Gerhardt, the Bundesliga season is one matchday old. Are you able to give an analysis of how well you’ve started?
Yannick Gerhardt: “It’s obviously always very difficult to do that so early on. You’re not sure exactly where you stand. That’s why it’s always helpful to pick up points as soon as you can. We did that in our first game and I think we’re on the right track, even if everything hasn’t been perfect yet.”
But if you ease through the first round of the DFB Cup and win your first Bundesliga game, it’s fair to say things couldn’t have gone much better?
Yannick: “The results have been very good, no question. But we have to be honest and recognise that against Heidenheim we conceded a few set-pieces too many and that we should have put the game to bed a lot earlier on. Having said that, if we’d been offered these results before the start of the season, we’d have taken them.”
Now VfL are heading back to your former home, Cologne. You know better than anyone: what makes this game different from the ones againstMakkabi and Heidenheim?
Yannick: “We’ll be playing in front of 50,000 fans and will be facing a team that made life really difficult for Borussia Dortmund last weekend. We’ll really have to be on our guard defensively and I’m sure we’ll have to withstand periods where they have the ball. We’re certainly in for an intense game.”
Last season, you were VfL’s top scorer alongside Jonas Wind. Are you aiming to defend your crown this term?
Yannick: “(Laughs) Well, I want to contribute goals again but that’s definitely not an aim of mine. I’m more focused on being important for the team and having an impact on games. It’s a lot more important that the club be successful. At the end of the season, if I have fewer goal contributions but we qualify for Europe then that’s preferable.”
Cologne seems to be a happy hunting ground for you, as you’ve scored in your last two trips there.
Yannick: “That’s true. Playing there is obviously special for me anyway. It’s where I spent my entire youth career, so I know every inch of the stadium. A lot of friends and family will be in the stands, so that gives me extra motivation. The main thing, though, is that we won both of those games. Hopefully that continues on Saturday.”
