Wind speaks out after tough start to the season: "Didn't see it coming"
After being one of Wolfsburg's most important players last season, Jonas Wind began the 2024/25 campaign as a benchwarmer under head coach Ralph Hasenhüttl.
In an interview with Danish football news outlet Bold at Denmark's national team camp, the 25-year-old striker admitted that his omission from the starting lineup came as a surprise.
"If you'd asked me after the Euros if I expected to return to the club in this way, I didn't expect it, considering how important I was to the team last season with all the goals I scored. I didn't see it coming. Only a little bit in pre-season. It was a disappointing start, but hopefully we've put that behind us," said Wind.
Wind had to wait until Matchday 5 to make his first start of the season. And as reveals in the interview with Bold, he only got the chance because one of his teammates - presumably Patrick Wimmer - had to pull out of the squad at a short notice.
“I didn't know I was going to start until the day we played. Up until then, it looked like another start off the bench," said Wind, who scored and set up a goal in that game - a 2-2 draw with Stuttgart.
“I did well in that match and I thought it would be difficult to leave me out for the following game against Bochum. It went well there too and I definitely showed [Ralph Hasenhüttl] that he could count on me. That's what I was waiting for. I've felt good enough in recent months,” added the striker, who bagged a brace in Wolfsburg's 3-1 win over Bochum at the weekend.
After a frustrating start to the season, Wind is pleased with the way he has turned things around.
“It's always more fun when you're playing than when you're not. When things are going well on the pitch, I feel great, but it affects my mood when I am not playing. Then I walk around a bit frustrated. But I think I handled it well and the coach has told me that since. He came up to me and said he couldn't complain about my commitment in training,” he said.
“It's great to prove to yourself that you can go through a tough patch and come out the other side stronger. I've been on the bench before, but not like this, when it was three short cameos and a whole game on the bench.”