BY: Oma Akatugba
Bundesliga side, Vfl Wolfsburg have expressed shock, over the sudden resignation of their manager Martin Schmidt.
The former Mainz 05 trainer after VFL Wolfsburg Bundesliga defeat at home to league leaders Bayern Munich, following pressure from the club’s fans for better results.
The club will now be in search of what will be their third head coach of the season after Schmidt’s departure.
An injury-time penalty from Robert Lewandowski gave Bayern Munich a 2-1 win over Wolfsburg on Saturday in what proved to be Schmidt’s final game in charge.
The Wolfsburg based club, who emerged Bundesliga runners-up in 2014-15, have only four league wins to their name all season.
The club released a statement saying they were surprised at Schmidt’s resignation, which he told them was done “to bring fresh impetus to the side” and to “relieve the increasing public pressure on the club and himself.”
“Internally we were all of the firm belief that we would turn things around together,” Wolfsburg managing director Dr Tim Schumacher said in a statement. “That’s why this move from Martin Schmidt came to us as a surprise that we hadn’t predicted, especially as we can’t fully comprehend his motives.
“We thank Martin Schmidt for his work and wish him all the best both in his career and private life.”
The club’s sporting director Olaf Rebbe echoed Schumacher’s comments, voicing support for Schmidt but that he could not be talked out of his decision.
“Martin Schmidt wants his resignation to pave the way for VfL to ensure survival as soon as possible with a new head coach,” Rebbe said. “We would’ve liked to have achieved this target with him, but we couldn’t dissuade him from his decision. We have to respect this firm stance, although I have to admit it disappoints me – particularly as he was the coach we wanted for the club.”
