On Saturday (15:30), VfL Bochum have to face TSG Hoffenheim. This is how coach Thomas Reis sees the situation before the game.

Thomas Reis, how did you deal with the home defeat against Mainz?

By addressing things clearly. It wasn’t that the opponent played us up against the wall. We misjudged certain situations and defended badly in others. But in comparison, the game against Mainz was better than our start last year against Wolfsburg.

Where was the focus of the training work this week?

For one thing, we wanted to work on the Mainz game because we saw that we have to be better in the penalty area. In addition, we wanted to try to get in front of the opponent’s goal more, to get a bit more crosses in from half-field to become dangerous.

What kind of opponent will TSG Hoffenheim be?

Hoffenheim play a similar system to Mainz, they want to play football. Against Gladbach they were outnumbered, so you have to put the result into perspective. We know they are dangerous, have good individual players and, with Angelino (came from RB Leipzig, editor’s note), an addition who will possibly start.

What is the personnel situation?

Konstantinos Stafylidis will probably be out, Patrick Osterhage, Jannes Horn and Danilo Soares too, Jacek Goralski is back in training but not yet involved. Dominique Heintz makes a good impression. He has match practice, knows the league. He will be directly in the squad on Saturday.

Will there be any changes in the starting line-up after the home defeat against Mainz 05?

I have to make one, because Stafylidis will be out. What else happens, we’ll see. cb / gp