VfL Bochum lost 0:2 at Bayer Leverkusen on matchday 17 in the Bundesliga. Coach Thomas Letsch was nevertheless satisfied with the performance.

VfL Bochum lost 0:2 at Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the first half of the season and is in the relegation spot in the Bundesliga after 17 match days. Coach Thomas Letsch initially found himself in mixed emotions following the game.

“On the one hand we are sad because we could have done better. On the other hand, proud because I’m convinced that if we perform like this every time in an away game, we’ll get our points.” The 54-year-old saw his team put in a good performance over 90 minutes against a strong Leverkusen side.

Eleventh penalty against Bochum

“For every spectator it was a class game, it went back and forth. We showed everything you have to show when you’re in a relegation battle.” He was all the more annoyed by the early goal conceded, which came after the eleventh penalty kick of the current season was whistled against VfL (8th minute).

Added to this was his own lack of chances in the opponent’s sixteen. “When you’re so active, it’s about scoring the goal and taking something countable. That’s what we certainly have to reproach ourselves for.” On the other side, Leverkusen showed what effectiveness is.

“Football is a game of mistakes,” VfL conceded the 0:2 at an inopportune moment shortly after the break. “Unfortunately, we made another one there.” Kevin Stöger had lost the ball in the build-up to the game in his own penalty area. “In the end, a game is decided by little things. We managed to play at eye level against Bayer Leverkusen. Only in the decisive moments they were better than us.”

On Saturday (28 January, 15:30), it’s straight back to the second-round opener. “When we look at our away games, there is absolutely a development in the right direction. And if we perform like that in Mainz, we will also reward ourselves. “