The whole of Bochum is eagerly awaiting the round of 16 in the DFB Cup against Borussia Dortmund. Chairman Hans-Peter Villis is convinced that the team will advance on Wednesday evening.

The away trip to Mainz was a complete washout for Hans-Peter Villis, CEO of VfL Bochum, for several reasons. “I drove my car into the ditch at the stadium and then we get five as well.” The 64-year-old’s spectacular 5:2 home victory against Hoffenheim – which was followed by an announcement in the direction of Borussia Dortmund – has given him a correspondingly positive mood.

“I am firmly convinced that we will win.” On Wednesday (8 February, 20:45), the Revier rivals are at Castroper Straße for the round of 16 in the DFB Cup. Villis sees the five wins in a row at home in the Ruhrstadion as a decisive factor. “With the support of the crowd, we are far from losing the game, quite the opposite.”

VfL coach Thomas Letsch was also looking forward to a “special Bochum night. When asked what made Letsch and the team tick, Villis replied: “The team unity. We are more than eleven players, the whole environment fits. That makes me very optimistic that we’ll keep the league and reach the next round in the cup.”

With Borussia Dortmund in the cup as well as record champions Bayern Munich and SC Freiburg, VfL has three high calibre Bundesliga teams in front of it in the upcoming matches. “We may not have the budget like the other clubs, but we have the mentality. The team has shown that.” And should prove it again on Wednesday.