Wolfsburg beats Moscow: Dante makes his first successful steps in a new life

Call it the worst defeat of his life or the darkest moment in his career: Brazil's 7-1 World Cup loss to Germany in 2014 changed his life. It not only seriously harmed the 31-year old's career in his national team but it was also the beginning of the end at his former club Bayern Munich.

After his only World Cup game for Brazil in 2014, Dante Bonfim Costa Santos - or better know just as "Dante" - said he felt a growing mistrust in his club.

According to him it came all of a sudden - after all he had won the 2013 Champions League with the Bavarian club. And it came, "After I had been the leading figure in Bayern's defense in the previous years." Dante decided to make a new start with the 2015 German Cup winner and 2014/2015 league runner-up VfL Wolfsburg, which is pinning its hopes on the experience of their new defender - for the time being until 2018.

With Dante as their new defensive leader, Wolfsburg performed well on the international stage in Group B against CSKA Moscow when dominating the game and winning their curtain raiser 1-0 (1-0).

After all Wolfsburg (with a 4-1-4-1 system with three strikers and an offensive midfield) had to replace their most successful goal scorers in Kevin de Bruyne (80 million euro to Manchester City) and Ivan Perisic (20 million/Inter Milan). The two provided 45 goals last season. But 2014 World Champion Andre Schuerrle (32 million euro from Chelsea), Luiz Gustavo (a 2013 Champions League winner with Bayern Munich), Julian Draxler (36 million from Schalke 04) and Dante (4 million) closed the gap with a well-balanced performance.

In addition Draxler - regarded by German head coach Joachim Loew as having potential for future major tournaments - scored his first goal for Wolfsburg with a header (40th minute).

The game against Moscow was the club's first return to the Champions League stage after 2009 when they finished only third in their group. They failed to advance. This time Dante's job is to ensure Wolfsburg reaches the knock-out phase.

"Especially for the Champions League, Dante's experience is important to us. We had an idea when we convinced him to join us," said Wolfsburg's managing director.

Dante was convinced and willing to start a new chapter in his career.

"I felt it was time to leave. I was in a kind of comfort zone at Bayern and needed a change to start anew," said Dante. For others, Dante in the end at Bayern was only responsible for creating a "good mood" in the squad - far from being a competitor for his defensive rivals. "I don't feel at ease about my time at Bayern. To feel regret or something like that would not help me in the future. I knew it is better to look forward into the future than to be angry and frustrated about what happened in Munich," said Dante.

At Wolfsburg he seems to be feeling better - not in a comfort zone anymore - but in a different football world.

"In Munich it is all about titles and winning every game. At Wolfsburg they talk about team-spirit and development. That is something new to me - and it was something I wanted to do," Dante said. "And that on a high level. We play in the Champions League and the clubs has aims I like."

After a heartfelt farewell in Munich, Dante has turned his focus on his new life in Wolfsburg as his club plans to be the number two in the German league and in German football in general in the future.

"I need to get some responsibility on the pitch, that's what I get at Wolfsburg," said the 1.88m central defender.

In return Wolfsburg not only hopes to get more stability into his defense but a Dante who will find his way back to happiness which would be infectious on the whole squad.

Against Moscow, Dante was as expected Wolfsburg's leader in the defense encouraging his teammates who dominated the encounter, but failed to score a second goal. Against Moscow, Dante left the pitch with a big smile on his face - and the disastrous nightmare suffered by Brazil against Germany seemed to be not more than a bad memory of ancient times.

"This was an important opening game for the entire team - as it was for me. I feel ready for a new step," Dante said.

His coach as well was satisfied. "We had a solid defense, Dante did well - that is the basis for a clear and well deserved victory," Wolfsburg's coach Dieter Hecking said. Endi