Wolfsburg back-up keeper Marius Müller earns more praise while Patrick Wimmer jokes about “back-side” goal | OneFootball

VfL Wolfsburg head coach Ralph Hasenhüttl had plenty to smile about after matchday 24’s Bundesliga win over SV Werder Bremen. At the post-match press conference, Hasenhüttl began by praising the continued excellent work of 31-year-old “Bundesliga rookie” keeper Marius Müller. Inspired performances from the team backup even rendered it vague whether regular #1 Kamil Grabara would reclaim his spot once returning from injury.

“We have a ‘number one-b’ [Müller] and a ‘number one-a’ [Grabara],” Hasenhüttl noted. “He [Müller] is a steely keeper who exudes an incredible calm and has proven that he can keep us in the game.“

Naturally, Müller wasn’t the main topic of conversation. Hasenhüttl obviously had to weigh in on the performance of young Austrian international Patrick Wimmer, whom many German football lovers were surprised to learn scored the very first brace of his Bundesliga career in the 1-2 away win.

“He has incredible dynamism, speed dribbling, and is always a nuisance against the ball,” Hasenhüttl said. “He wins a lot of balls and his pace makes for dangerous counterattacking situations

“I think he could have scored more goals this season,” Hasenhüttl continued. “But he is getting more and more effective and fitter, so he’s on the right track. He has to stay hungry and can’t afford to sit back. If he does, I think he has a great future.”

The 23-year-old is a familiar face to German league watchers, having already racked up 91 top flight appearances during his one season with DSC Arminia Bielefeld (2021/22) and three subsequent campaigns with Germany’s green company team.

Wimmer’s explosive potential on both flanks is also known to every last Bundesliga aficionado. Few will forget when, on the very first matchday back from the 2022 World Cup break, Wimmer stormed out of the gate to collect a gorgeous goal and assist in a 6-0 win over Freiburg.

Wimmer appeared on the cusp of a breakthrough back then. In general, Wimmer serves as a player who looked to be ready to rise countless times. So many untimely injuries invariably squandered his potential. Now, linked with both Bayern Munich and Fulham, the time may finally be at hand.

It almost seems fitting that Wimmer’s first brace came in an exceptionally odd fashion that mirrors the weird nature of his career. Wimmer scored lucky goals shortly after the beginning of both halves. The 48th-minute 2-0 was a deflected effort. The 6th-minute 1-0 caromed in off his bum.

Wimmer joked about it afterwards.

“That wasn’t my best game,” Wimmer said in the mixed zone. “I have a very big backside, so it’s nice to be able to use it in a positive way in a game.“

GGFN | Peter Weis