Wind to return to Kovac's XI, Rogerio in line to replace Maehle
Speaking at his Friday pre-match presser, VfL Wolfsburg head-coach Niko Kovac let it be known that Danish striker Jonas Wind would return to the starting XI against Leverkusen on Sunday.
As for whom would deputize for the suspended Joakim Maehle at left-back, Kovac indicated that Brazilian left back Rogerio was probably fit enough to make a cold start.
As for whom would deputize for the suspended Joakim Maehle at left-back, Kovac indicated that Brazilian left back Rogerio was probably fit enough to make a cold start.
VfL Wolfsburg trainer Niko Kovac - asked about the benching of Danish striker Jonas Wind against VfB Stuttgart last week at his Friday presser - emphasized that the decision to deploy Kevin Behrens alone up top in a 4-2-3-1 was purely a tactical decision. Kovac praised Wind's work off the bench in what ended up being a narrow loss and gave every indication that the 25-year-old would return to the starting blocks against Leverkusen on Sunday.
"We wanted to take a different approach and sent more deep balls in behind the [Stuttgart] defense," Kovac explained on Friday, "but after he [Wind] came on, he delivered. He's an immensely important player for us and it's not a huge deal that he sat out a match. [His return to the starting XI] can be assumed."
As for who might replace Wind's Danish compatriot Joakim Maehle (out on accumulated yellow card suspension), Kovac gave every indication that he would give Brazilian left-back Rogerio the cold start against the league leaders. Kilian Fischer, Yannick Gerhardt, Ridle Baku, and even Kevin Paredes can all work the role out of position, but Rogerio's ability to partake in full team training on his way back from a thigh injury rendered him the probable choice.
"It looks good thus far," Kovac said of his natural left-back's playing prospects, "With Rogerio, we have someone we can throw in. Certainly not for 90 minutes, but maybe 60. [Others] can also fill in, so we are leaving that open."