Kovac praises team and criticizes officials after latest loss
A haggard looking Niko Kovac could only reiterate his old talking points - and register a refereeing complaint - following another disappointing result for Germany's green company team yesterday.
VfL Wolfsburg trainer Niko Kovac found himself in familiar territory during his post-match Saturday press conference. Despite the fact that his German Wolves dominated their opponents in statistical categories such as shots-on-goal, possession, and direct duels, three points could not be obtained. A particularly stinging loss away at 1. FC Union Berlin leaves the Wolves on the wrong side of an early February relegation six-pointer.
"We were the better team and had the better chances," Kovac said at his presser, "The team played sensationally well even if we didn't get the points. Those are the arguments for us [himself and staff] that speak for us continuing to be able to coach the team."
Kovac griped that the corner kick that enabled Union's Danilho Doekhi to score what would prove to be the game-winning goal at 45+21 shouldn't have been awarded at all. The dead-ball came after Moritz Jenz and Andras Schäfer collided in an aerial duel inside the box. Jenz had to leave the pitch bleeding, leaving Wolfsburg with one man less to defend the set-piece.
"It may have been unlucky, but it was a foul [on Schäfer]," Kovac noted, "I blame the VAR team for not intervening. He [Jenz] has a broken nose and looks like he was hit by a truck. I don't think it was from the ball. The fact that a corner was awarded is inconceivable."