It’s not an easy start for Uwe Rösler at VfL Bochum. He has to take his first steps with a significantly reduced squad.

VfL Bochum is using the international break for a test match. On Thursday, new coach Uwe Rösler’s team will face third-division side Alemannia Aachen in a friendly, with kick-off at 2 p.m. at the athletics field at the Ruhrstadion. The 90 minutes will take place behind closed doors.

Rösler will have to do without Matus Bero, Gerrit Holtmann, Cajetan Lenz, Leandro Morgalla, Francis Onyeka, Kacper Koscierski, Ibrahima Sissoko, Kevin Vogt, Koji Miyoshi, and Kjell Wätjen. Vogt and Wätjen are injured, while Sissoko and Miyoshi are in rehab training after their injuries.

Looking ahead to the match against Aachen, Rösler emphasizes: “I want to get a good overview, so many players will play for 45 minutes. We’re mixing things up, there’s no A or B team. Of course, we want to achieve a positive result. It’s important to me that the players deliver a positive performance. That they show themselves and gain confidence from the game. “

So far, a lot of work has been done on tactics, with the focus on defense. Rösler: ”I want to see the principles we’ve been working on for the last two days.”

The former pro also announces a change, but one that can be changed again with a view to the second division season. “We already have a small tactical change in mind. But that doesn’t mean we’ll play that way against Hertha or throughout the entire season. I have to make the best of the material I have available. Because we’re missing a lot of players. Against Aachen, I have a solution that will hopefully work against their 3-4-3 system.”

What gives the new coach courage is the commitment the team has shown so far. Rösler explains that the team is physically fit. “We turned the intensity down a bit on Wednesday because the guys have performed so well over the last two days. The values were very high, so we did a little less. Now they can go out on the pitch against Aachen feeling fresh.” cb / gp