Zoller in no uncertain terms: “I’ve never been taken apart like that before”.

VfL Bochum were clearly shown the limits by FC Bayern Munich. Simon Zoller criticised the lack of VfL virtues after the game.

“That was 90 minutes to forget, I don’t want to exclude anyone,” was Simon Zoller’s scathing verdict after the 7-0 defeat, which was “still not clear enough”. The 31-year-old missed all the virtues that make VfL Bochum what it is against FC Bayern München.

I’ve never been broken down like that by every trick in the book.

Simon Zoller

“We couldn’t fight because we didn’t get to the point of being able to fight,” he added, adding that VfL lacked the passion to fight back against league leaders. “I’ve never been taken apart like that by every trick in the book,” said Zoller, brutally disappointed after the declassification.

VfL show virtues again

“We have to find solutions as soon as possible in order to be competitive,” said Zoller. But Bayern should by no means be seen as a yardstick for VfL. Rather, the courageous but hapless performances of the first two matchdays against Mainz and Hoffenheim must be taken as a guide.

VfL Bochum - FC Bayern21. August 2022 — VfL Bochum – FC Bayern21. August 2022

“We showed what we are capable of and what VfL Bochum stands for”. This Friday (26 August, 20:30), after a short week of training against the in-form SC Freiburg, this face must be shown on the pitch for 90 minutes.

But despite the false start with three defeats and 18th place in the table, Zoller is not too worried about the mood around VfL. “We are far away from a crisis, we are too solid for that. We also had phases last year where things didn’t go well – that won’t knock us down,” he says, confident that he and the fans will soon be able to turn things around.