The challenge to the challengers is to become more than just the challenger. It is as much a play of words, as it is a play in the psyche, in the team’s mental strength.
And this is where VfL Wolfsburg are right now, the same place frequented by annual contenders like Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Monchengladbach, and save for last season, Borussia Dortmund (in fact, they can return to this place again, so, considering the very promising work done by Thomas Tuchel).
But what do I mean by this?
As the start of the 2015-16 Bundesliga looms, a popular headline is the assumed breaking down of the FC Bayern München monopoly because now, the Wolves have emerged as a potent contender.
That he took the most convenient easy way out when things went tough was the reason why fans would always dislike Di Maria.
What many seem to miss is the fact that this is a crucial stage. Yes, the possibility of the Wolves becoming champions is better now compared to one, two or three years ago (and I am not even factoring in the fact that in a few days, the Wolves could potentially loss primary stalwart Kevin De Bruyne for an English Premier League team or worse, against rival Bayern München).
But the biggest hurdle the Wolves face is the difficult phase of transitioning – because in order for them to actually become champions, they should start thinking like champions and not be content on being successful as a potent challenger of the champion that they can defeat in a match, but not in the overall chase for the silverware.
Because becoming a Bundesliga champion is more than winning over the reigning titlist. FC Bayern München know that already, and they are already in that pinnacle, which makes it hard for contenders to usurp the Bavarians.
Now, the Wolves must be prepared for their next important battle, which is the psychological one. If they can win here too, they are one step closer to becoming a legitimate force in the German top tier league.
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