Hecking 'deeply disappointed' after Wolfsburg relegation
Wolfsburg manager Dieter Hecking says it "hurts" to get relegated after the team "gave their all" in order to stay in the Bundesliga.
Having drawn the first leg of the promotion/relegation play-off 0-0, Wolfsburg took a third-minute lead in the second on Monday but were quickly on the back foot after Joakim Maehle was sent off for two bookable offences inside 14 minutes.
As such, Filip Bilbija equalised for Paderborn before the break, though Laurin Curda did not find the winner until the 100th minute.
This is only the second time in the last 14 editions of the play-off that the second-tier side has prevailed, ending a run of six straight victories for the top-tier team.
"It hurts when you get relegated," Hecking said "I'm deeply disappointed, too, because we've had a very intense period over the last nine to ten weeks.
"We tried everything, and the players gave their all to avoid relegation.
"I have a completely different take on [the red card] incident. Maehle was tackled three times, then three players came at him – if that isn't a foul by Bilbija, then we might as well give up. We could complain about it, but it's pointless.
"I'm naturally disappointed that we didn't make it. We need a day or two to process this before we talk."
