“It hurts brutally”: VfL Wolfsburg shocked after Champions League exit

When the unthinkable grew to become clear, the eloquent Alexandra Popp first needed to seek for the proper phrases. “It hurts brutally,” mentioned the visibly shocked Wolfsburg captain on membership TV after the early exit from the Champions League. “We had been within the remaining final season – and all of the sudden you’re not within the group stage.”

After the 0:2 (0:1) in opposition to Paris FC on Tuesday night, the dream of reaching the ultimate of the premier class was shattered – unexpectedly early, but additionally considerably deserved.

“We didn’t actually handle to grow to be a objective risk,” the 32-year-old striker defined why the 2013 and 2014 Champions League winners had failed to attain the much-needed consequence after the 3-3 draw within the first leg of the second spherical per week in the past to get a house win. Trying on the video games of the season up to now, “it might simply be too little,” mentioned Popp, and “possibly in the long run it’s not undeserved.”

VfL defender Dominique Janssen, who missed a penalty when the rating was 0-1, struggled for composure like Popp: “It’s troublesome to place it into phrases.” Really, the Wolfsburg ladies wished to win after the 2-3 remaining defeat they suffered in Might FC Barcelona make one other try in the direction of the European soccer crown.

3,747 spectators watched the bitter finish in Wolfsburg

“You come to Wolfsburg to win massive titles and play massive video games, additionally play massive competitions. The truth that we couldn’t try this this yr simply hurts extremely,” complained Janssen. Coach Tommy Stroot summed up with a clean look: “A bitter defeat that we now have to simply accept.”

By being eradicated in entrance of three,747 spectators within the AOK Stadium, VfL not solely misplaced out on the entry payment of 400,000 euros. Different bonuses may even be lacking from the coffers: the Wolfsburg workforce pocketed round 1.1 million euros within the final European Cup season. There was 50,000 euros for every win, plus additional more money for reaching the quarter and semi-finals and 200,000 euros for dropping the ultimate.

The draw on Friday will in all probability damage the VfL gamers once more, as will the opening video games on November 14th and fifteenth. From a German perspective, solely champions FC Bayern and Eintracht Frankfurt are represented. The Hessians had mastered their job within the second spherical with two clear victories in opposition to AC Sparta Prague (5:0 and three:0). (dpa)