With four games to go, VfL Bochum are fighting to stay in the Bundesliga. Now Gladbach awaits, actually a disappointment of the season. But they are dangerous at home.
Patrick Osterhage has worked his way into the season at VfL Bochum. He came to VfL from BVB II in the summer of 2021. In his first season, he made 13 appearances and played 593 minutes in the Bundesliga.
This season he has already made 22 appearances. On the seventh matchday, when the first point was earned against 1. FC Köln after a bad start, he played the full distance for the first time this season.
Since then, he has only failed to play four times. The 23-year-old, who is under contract until 2026, has earned his place alongside Anthony Losilla and mostly Kevin Stöger.
Especially the last game against BVB will certainly remain in Osterhage’s memory for longer. With a brief look back, he reveals: “That was a special game for me, as I didn’t play from the start against BVB the last few times. It was emotionally led by both sides. We were happy to take the point. The fans were outstanding, it was goosebumps. “
The fans were outstanding, it was a goosebump atmosphere.
Patrick Osterhage
Despite this, VfL go into their last four games from the relegation spot, as VfB Stuttgart were able to pass VfL due to their better goal difference.
And they did so with a 2-1 win over Borussia Mönchengladbach, the opponent that now awaits the Bochum side. Gladbach have been one of the disappointments this season. They have only won two of their last twelve games, and the team often looks as if it is inhibited.
Almost nothing works away from home, but at home there are bright spots from time to time. Like in the victories against Bayern or Borussia Dortmund. That’s why Borussia is in sixth place in the home table.
Osterhage therefore emphasises: “They are a good team in terms of football, and we must not underestimate them under any circumstances. We have to be fully focused and try to win.”
The motto: “Throw ourselves into every ball. We have to set intensities already in training. Then everyone has to be there for each other, we have to fight for every centimetre.”
Because Gladbach will not give anything away, otherwise the mood in the club will get even worse. Especially as a defeat would leave a manageable gap of only five points at the bottom.
Because in the basement they are currently scoring well, as Osterhage also knows: “The results haven’t made me nervous, even if you would have wished for different results. It is now the way it is, we have to get our points.”