Concerns over Amoura and Simonis’ search for the key: The defeat Saturday in Brighton

What was intended as a strong response to VfL Wolfsburg’s 4-0 collapse particularly in the second half against Feyenoord Rotterdam turned instead into another frustrating setback.

Under new head coach Paul Simonis, the Lower Saxony side suffered back-to-back defeats in a double-header against Premier League opposition Brighton & Hove Albion, continuing a pre-season run of disappointing results. While Wolfsburg did at least manage to find the net again, the positives were overshadowed by recurring weaknesses in both attack and defence, as well as fresh injury concerns that threaten to complicate the club’s preparations for the new Bundesliga season.

The Brighton trip was meant to offer Simonis’ team a chance to regain confidence and test themselves against a well-drilled top-flight English side. Instead, it highlighted the same structural issues that had been exposed in previous matches. The sequence of results makes grim reading: a 0-1 defeat to Espanyol Barcelona, the heavy loss to Feyenoord, and now 0-2 and 1-2 reversals in England. The Dutchman, brought in to succeed Ralph Hasenhüttl, has openly acknowledged that he intends to make significant tactical and personnel changes but the search for the “right key” is ongoing.

Defensively, Wolfsburg continue to look fragile. Brighton created numerous clear chances, forcing new goalkeeper Kamil Grabara into several important saves to keep the scoreline respectable. The first goal in the opening game came when former Hoffenheim forward Georginio Rutter overpowered defender Denis Vavro in the penalty area after Amoura lost a challenge and Patrick Wimmer failed to apply enough pressure. The sequence summed up Wolfsburg’s defensive woes: an initial loss of possession, hesitation in pressing, and an inability to win the decisive duel in the box.

Offensively, Simonis’ side once again fell somewhere between harmless and wasteful. In the first half, Amine Amoura proved to be Wolfsburg’s most creative outlet, setting up two golden opportunities one for Skov Olsen in the 22nd minute and another for Lovro Majer in the 30th. Both chances went begging. Amoura himself came close just after the hour mark, narrowly missing a low cross from Wimmer. All three opportunities came from quick transition play, underlining that Wolfsburg still rely heavily on counter-attacks, just as they did last season. The ambition to dominate games “with and without the ball” as Simonis has publicly stated remains far from being realised.

In the second match against Brighton, the Premier League side doubled their lead after half-time, effectively killing off the contest. Wolfsburg did manage a consolation through an unlikely source: substitute left-back Rogerio. Before his goal, captain Maximilian Arnold had gone close with a long-range strike in the 76th minute. Then, Rogerio who had missed the entire previous season through injury and had only just overcome a pneumonia setback this pre-season made an energetic run forward and finished with confidence. His goal was a personal triumph, marking an emotional return to action after more than a year on the sidelines.

Unfortunately for Wolfsburg, the good news ended there. Striker Amine Amoura, who had been one of the few bright sparks, raised fresh injury fears when he went down for the second time in the match clutching the back of his left thigh. At 25, the Algerian is one of the team’s few natural centre-forwards, and his potential absence would be a serious blow for a squad already lacking depth in the number nine role. The issue was compounded by the fact that in the day’s first match, the starting striker had been 19-year-old returnee Dzenan Pejcinovic, while in the second game, Amoura’s injury meant he had to be replaced by U-19 prospect Katz.

For months, Wolfsburg have been actively searching for a high-quality striker to lead the line, but so far the recruitment drive has not yielded a signing. The lack of options was already a concern before Amoura’s injury scare; now, it has become a priority.

Meanwhile, Jonas Wind another key forward continues to be sidelined with muscular problems. The Danish international did not travel with the squad to England, but was spotted on Saturday at the Weserstadion in Bremen. Accompanied by his father, Per Wind, the striker attended Werder Bremen’s 1-2 friendly defeat to Udinese Calcio, sitting in the stands alongside compatriot Jens Stage and Werder defender Amos Pieper. His appearance in Bremen sparked some fan chatter on social media, though it appears to have been nothing more than a friendly visit.

The bigger picture for Wolfsburg is that Simonis’ tenure is starting under challenging circumstances. Four consecutive pre-season defeats might not matter in the standings, but they risk denting morale and undermining the tactical adjustments the new coach is trying to implement. His vision of a more dominant, possession-based team remains a work in progress but without defensive stability and clinical finishing, the transition could be rocky when competitive fixtures begin.

The coming weeks will be crucial. Simonis will need to tighten up the defensive organisation, find a reliable attacking focal point, and ensure that the fitness issues plaguing key players like Amoura and Wind do not carry over into the season. The club’s search for a top-class striker may prove decisive not just for the team’s early results, but for whether Simonis can execute his long-term plan.

For now, Wolfsburg leave Brighton with more questions than answers and the clock is ticking before the Bundesliga kicks off.