McClaren Has Champions League Intentions With Wolfsburg This Season.

English manager Steve McClaren has spent the summer constructing a squad that will compete for a Champions League berth this season, and so far things are looking rosy for the ex-Twente manager. Die Wolfe’s transfer market activity could destabilise the squad, but with McClaren at the helm, Wolfsburg fans can be confident that their new head coach will be able to pull together  this new set of personalities and styles and create a squad that can challenge for Bundesliga glory for years to come.

Key Players

Bosnian hitman Edin Dzeko remains the star of this Wolfsburg side despite constant transfer rumours and new signings. McClaren will look to Dzeko with season to top the scoring charts and finish off the opposition with clinical finishing. Earlier this summer, McClaren declared that he would fight ‘tooth and nail’ to keep the Bosnian, and so far McClaren has succeeded. Without him, Wolfsburg’s only other quality striker is Grafite, so it is imperative that Dzeko remains with Die Wolfe this season, or at least until a competent replacement can be made available.

Wolfsburg captain Josue will again play a pivotal role in his side’s challenge for a Champions League berth this season. The Brazilian midfielder will control possession and win the ball in the middle of the park. Without his industry and teamwork, Die Wolfe could be overrun by opposition players. Josue is as solid as they come in terms of defensive midfielders, and he will be vital to his side’s chances this season.

Newcomers

Wolfsburg have made quite a few signings this summer, but none more important than the purchase of Arne Friedrich from recently relegated Hertha Berlin. Friedrich had a stellar World Cup with Germany, and was available for a relatively low price this summer. Kudos to McClaren for picking him up. The veteran center-half will most likely partner another summer signing in the form of young Danish defender Simon Kjaer. The experience and positional sense of Friedrich and the pace and aggressive tackling of Kjaer will make for a very solid central pairing in Wolfsburg’s back-line.

Expectations

After McClaren’s incredible success with FC Twente in the Eredivisie last season, where he beat the domestically dominant Ajax to the Eredivisie title, Wolfsburg fans will be looking for McClaren to continue his success with Die Wolfe. While McClaren may not have an immediate eye on the title, he will certainly be looking to take Wolfsburg back to Champions League football. And, after some smart signings, this may all be possible once again for Wolfsburg. With so many new players and so many different styles of football coming together at Wolfsburg, it will be interesting to see how McClaren first unites the squad, and second how successful he can be with this squad. I do see McClaren leading Wolfsburg back into European contention once again this year.