VfL Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals in Europa League thanks Benaglio – SPIEGEL ONLINE

The greatest praise Dieter Hecking had canceled until shortly before midnight. The coach of VfL Wolfsburg sat in the press room of the San Siro stadium and answered a question on the other to 2: 1 victory of his VfL Wolfsburg in the quarter-finals of the Europa League against Inter Milan and the resulting rise in the next round. His last words were goalkeeper and captain Diego Benaglio. “Perhaps he plays his best season for VfL” Hecking said. Then he disappeared through a side door

Perhaps his best season -. That’s a huge compliment for Benaglio, for he has long been in Wolfsburg and has a lot of experience at VfL. In 2009 he helped to win the German championship, 2011, he was almost relegated to the club. In the current season Benaglio makes a significant contribution to the Wolfsburg will probably get the unofficial title as the best Bundesliga team behind Bayern, which – officially – means direct qualification for the Champions League.

In the Europa League goalkeeper had held strong in the second round against Sporting Lisbon, also in Milan could rely on Benaglio. With several parades he prevented the Wolfsburg after 3 had to shake the quarter-finals in the first leg of the feeder 1 success. Above all, his deliverance Fredy Guarin against seconds before the break was spectacular: As a human buffer threw himself Benaglio in Guarins shot from close range and turned the ball over the bar. “He’s there when times slips a. This is important for the team,” said coach Hecking about his attack.

Benaglio has played with Switzerland World and European Championships. It is not so easy to get out of the rest, including the partial crushing noise backdrop when filled with 42,000 spectators half Giuseppe Meazza Stadium impressed him only moderately by its own account. “It was nothing extraordinary,” said Benaglio. Also in the Bundesliga was so week after week best mood. In addition, Inter’s fans were calmed with increasing playing time in the face of dwindling hope of still throw the VfL from the competition. “That was a good sign for us,” said Benaglio and smiled.

Also, thanks to the Keepers of the VfL has passed the matriculation examination in Milan. Up to Daniel Caligiuris 1: 0 in the 24th minute, and especially after the temporary equalizer by Rodrigo Palacio 20 minutes before closing had the Wolfsburg yes but one or the other wobbles in the game. . But they quickly became stable again

“The team has shaken and the short drive phase,” says a Hecking said, praising the stress resistance of his players: “A big step in personal development” was the victory of Milan , The Wolfsburg are not panic. Instead, they used one of their counter attack in the closing stages to 2: 1 by the substitute Nicklas Bendtner

The draw for the quarter-finals this Friday (13 clock, live ticker SPIEGEL ONLINE) provides the VfL confidently say.. Defender Timm Klose comes after the addition of the goals from round match against Milan at the conclusion: “Who Inter 5: 2 raushaut must hide from anyone.” Coach Hecking expected regardless of the opponent “two brutal close games,” which on the one hand means that the VfL nothing will be paid. And on the other hand, that the Wolfsburg will represent a serious test for each remaining team.

The coach regrets that these days there is little time to savor the success. From the stadium in Milan, the Wolfsburg were transported directly to the airport on Friday morning is already training for Sunday’s Premier League match at Mainz 05 is applied. “What a pity that the team can not enjoy” Hecking said. But in the busy schedule of VfL Wolfsburg nothing will change anytime soon

Inter Milan – VfL Wolfsburg. 1: 2 (0: 1)
0: 1 Caligiuri ( 24)
1: 1 Palacio (71)
1: 2 Bendtner (89)
Milan: Carrizo – Campagnaro (68. D’Ambrosio) , Ranocchia, Jesus, Santon – Hernanes, Medel, Guarin – Palacio, Icardi, Kovacic (55 Kuzmanovic)
Wolfsburg: Benaglio – Träsch, Knoche, Klose, Rodriguez – Guilavogui, Luiz Gustavo – Vieirinha (85. Arnold), De Bruyne, Caligiuri (73 Perisic) – Dost (64th Bendtner)
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (England)
Viewers : 42,100
Yellow cards: Medel (2) – De Bruyne (2), Arnold (2)