Paul Simonis takes heat in the German press as Peter Christiansen’s ‘Wolfsburg Project’ once again stalls
Despite another expensive summer transfer window, VfL Wolfsburg are once again failing to turn star power into points in the Bundesliga table. The latest league loss—a 3-1 away defeat at FC Augsburg—leaves the Autostädter with just one win through six Bundesliga matchdays. Instead of competing for European qualification, the German Wolves enter the October international break just above the relegation zone.
All professionals associated with the Wolfsburg project have expressed their dissatisfaction with the team’s form following yesterday’s loss. An editorial published by highly respected German football journalist Thomas Hiete of Kicker strongly asserts that the VfL front office has once again failed to put together a coherent project. Danish managing director Peter Christiansen, now in office for 15 months, doesn’t appear to be succeeding in his task.
Yesterday’s passive and lethargic performance was labeled “anemic” by VfL right-back Kilian Fischer. Head coach Paul Simonis and VfL sporting director Sebastian Schindzielorz concurred with this assessment. Hiete questions whether Danish managing director Christiansen’s call for a Wolfsburg brand of exciting and thrilling football is something that can be achieved under an eager-to-please rookie coach.
“That was not enough in all areas,” Schindzielorz remarked in the mixed zone yesterday. “There was only one team on the pitch that wanted to win, and that was Augsburg.” A perplexed and angry-looking Simonis added at the post-match press conference: “There must never be a lack of intensity or energy. Those things should be easy to achieve.”
According to Hiete, dangerous symptoms are emerging in Wolfsburg—symptoms characteristic of a relegation candidate. Christiansen has not made any visible progress with his plans. “What does Wolfsburg actually stand for?” Hiete asks.
The journalist goes on to highlight specific new acquisitions from the summer transfer market who are not being utilized properly by Simonis. Chief among these is the €18 million Sheffield United signing Vinicius Souza, whom Hiete argues is being wasted as an attacking midfielder in an attempt to avoid encroaching on VfL captain Maximilian Arnold’s territory.
All observers see the Brazilian as a classic defensive midfielder who, with his strength in one-on-one situations in front of the defense, could be of great value to the team. But because he cannot get past captain Arnold, Simonis is trying a lazy compromise by positioning Vinicius Souza more offensively as a link-up player. This only partially fits his profile.
Hiete also questions why German left-back Aaron Zehnter, after a conspicuously strong start, has been replaced by Danish fullback and winger Joakim Maehle. The versatile Maehle can literally play in a variety of positions, yet there doesn’t seem to be a strong case for phasing out Zehnter.
There is also evidence that other Danes such as Jonas Wind, Christian Eriksen, and Adam Daghim are being favored over more qualified players. Moreover, deadline-day additions such as Sael Kumbendi and Jenson Seelt are either being barely used or not used at all.
Is the inexperienced Simonis trying too hard to impress his Danish managing director? Did Christiansen and Schindzielorz hire someone too eager to placate players and bosses and too cowardly to construct his own project?
“It’s by no means bad luck or coincidence that Wolfsburg has only picked up two points since their opening day win against Heidenheim,” Hiete writes. “Time and again, serious individual errors destabilize the team’s fragile structure.” Simonis opens himself up to criticism with his personnel selections as the club struggles to find consistency and identity.
https://www.getfootballnewsgermany.com/2025/paul-simonis-takes-heat-in-the-german-press-as-peter-christiansens-wolfsburg-project-once-again-stalls/
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