VfL Bochum failed to extend its cushion against the relegation places. In the 2:3 home defeat, coach Thomas Letsch complained about the goals conceded.

VfL Bochum narrowly lost the important six-point game against VfB Stuttgart 2:3 (0:1). After the game, coach Thomas Letsch was particularly annoyed with the way the goals were conceded.

“In our own possession, we made the mistake in the first half of playing far too despondently. We chose the long ball far too often unprepared against the three lockers in the back.” With this, Letsch alluded primarily to Waldemar Anton and Konstantinos Mavropanos in the VfB three-man backline. “The opponent was prepared for that.”

The second balls also did not land at the feet of a Bochum player with the regularity that had often been the case in previous games. The game was lost at the back, however. “One main criticism we have to take is the way we concede goals.”

All three goals conceded originated from a cross from Stuttgart’s left flank. “That Borna Sosa can cross quite well from the side, we knew in advance. When we conceded the first goal, we failed to build pressure early and then defended poorly at the back. “

With the start of the second half, Bochum managed a little better to get through the lines of the VfB back line. The penalty that made it 1-1 was preceded by a combination via Kevin Stöger and Philipp Hofmann. Accordingly, Letsch was most annoyed that the equalizer was only of such short duration.

“We have to be more clever there”

“Everyone who knows our stadium actually knows, then we have to get the momentum on our side,” Letsch said. “We come back into the game and then comes the phase that decided the game for me.” Just two minutes after scoring their own goal, Stuttgart took the lead again. “That’s when we have to be more clever.”

Especially since the situation had actually already been clarified. “We are in a five-on-three and one relies on the other.” Danilo Soares looked particularly unfortunate, completely losing sight of counterpart Serhou Guirassy at the back. “The thing that made us strong in recent games, our own defense in the box, we did that badly. If we had defended with the passion we did against Frankfurt and Leipzig, we wouldn’t have gotten the goal.”

As if being behind again wasn’t bitter enough, VfB directly added another goal. “That’s a goal we don’t have to get like that.” Another cross from the left, in which case keeper Manuel Riemann misjudged. “‘Manu’ decides to come out. In the end, maybe it wasn’t the best decision.”

That effectively decided the game, but Letsch said VfL had not given up despite the double blow. “I don’t blame the team in terms of fighting. They fought until the end, threw everything into it, but we chose the wrong means and did badly in the decisive situations. “