There was a lot of speculation about the big moment of an evening that nourishes new dreams for VfL Wolfsburg. Was that rehearsed? Was it a well-calculated deal? Or is it more about a moment of happiness? Lukas Nmecha had pushed the ball with amazing force into the right corner of the goal. The attacker found the questions about his decisive hit amusing. “It was instinctual,” Nmecha explained. “I just kicked it as hard as possible.” That might be the simple explanation why VfL Wolfsburg is suddenly playing successfully again. But there is more to the 2-1 home win in the Champions League against FC Salzburg. The willingness to take risks is awakened. The new head coach Florian Kohfeldt demands football with guts. And Nmecha delivers.

In two games under the new leader, two wins were achieved. If Kohfeldt really managed to resolve a blockade in Wolfsburg and to convey fresh game ideas within a very short time, this is also due to his presence of euphoric professionals. Nmecha is 22 years old and so far not a regular at VfL. But after Kohfeldt replaced the unsuccessful Mark van Bommel the previous week, the game idea and hierarchy in Wolfsburg are re-examined. In the duel with the aggressive Salzburgers, Nmecha and Yannick Gerhardt were allowed to form an offensive trio alongside the otherwise outstanding Wout Weghorst. Gerhardt skillfully prepared the goal to make it 1-0 through Ridle Baku. Nmecha scored the winning goal. Weghorst, on the other hand, was replaced after 63 minutes.The Dutchman was apparently exhausted after a corona infection and only appeared to a limited extent. His younger colleagues took full advantage of the limelight of a lively football evening.

Just 16,112 spectators wanted to experience first hand what Kohfeldt is up to and could do better than van Bommel on Tuesday evening. Hansi Flick was one of the guests in the stands who certainly had a slightly different point of view. The national coach is on the lookout for the next generation of players - especially in the storm. This includes Karim Adeyemi, a really hopeful attacker for FC Salzburg. He has already made a strong debut in the national team. With more calm and precision at the end, Adeyemi could have ruined VfL Wolfsburg's home game after just a few seconds. But the 19-year-old center forward stayed well below his possibilities this time. “It wasn't a good game for me personally. Our game wasn't that bad.The exploitation of chances made it difficult for us, ”admitted Adeyemi. He sounded meek and self-critical when his team left the stadium as a loser.

Kohfeldt's tactics help Nmecha

More luck and skill proved in the duel of the gifted Nmecha.

The success of VfL Wolfsburg had meanwhile been on shaky legs.

Salzburg were able to equalize to 1-1 with a Maximilian Wöber free-kick goal and knew how to push their hosts back more and more.

But then the Wolfsburg universal talent Maximilian Arnold carried the ball over the entire defense of the opponent to Nmecha. What Flick and the other stadium visitors then saw was worth attending this Champions League match alone. Nmecha almost repeated his artistic shot to make it 2-1 a few minutes later, but aimed too high. "I'm not perfect," said the Wolfsburg player who fits in perfectly with the club's current ideals. He really wants to develop and prove himself. Under the guidance of Kohfeldt, Nmecha has been accompanying the feeling of knowing exactly what to do again for a few days. The new tactical basic orientation (3-4-3) of the trainer should ensure in the next few weeks that Nmecha often knows from the start of the game what exactly is expected of him.

The early transition from one coach to the other ensures that VfL Wolfsburg is monitored more closely in its everyday life in the Bundesliga and its freestyle in the Champions League. With Kohfeldt a communicative trainer has moved up. He approaches things analytically, transparently, and fairly honestly. “We shouldn't be lying in our pockets. I wouldn't speak of an exceptional achievement. But we won an even game with a lot of passion, ”said the debutant, who was allowed to help shape a game in the premier class for the first time.

Premier victory for Kohfeldt, first Wolfsburg success after five and a half years: This Champions League record sounds like an ideal debut for the former Werder Bremen coach.

Kohfeldt refrained from loud cheers.

He left it at that, discreetly happy and passed the congratulations on the victory directly to the team.

The chance of participating in the group stage at the beginning of 2022 to follow knockout matches in the Champions League is within reach.

For players like Nmecha and Baku willing to develop, it is an ideal stage on the way to the top.

For the 39-year-old Kohfeldt, who failed six months ago in the relegation battle at Werder, this is at least the same.