VfL Bochum’s test has served its purpose. Now it’s off until Tuesday.

Bundesliga club VfL Bochum have won their test match against De Graafschap Doetinchem 2:1 (1:1). VfL coach Thomas Letsch was satisfied, which he was able to justify.

Above all, it was important to the coach that many players were able to gain match practice and, above all, that a test match was won for once, because previously the Bochum team had mostly suffered defeats.

Letsch therefore summed up after the game: “I was very pleased that we were able to play after all the rain. It was difficult to show good soccer. There were things that were good and things that weren’t so good. What was important to me was that we showed at the back that we wanted to win and we did that.”

And in the back four, Maximilian Wittek and Felix Passlack were able to show that they are also up for the fight. Letsch: “A game like this is about a few things. Players who play less should gain practice. Felix Passlack and Maximilian Wittek did that quite well. Especially in a back four, we’ve only played a back three with them so far. I think Felix – the longer the match lasted – was better and better in it. That’s why he’s got the rhythm now. When he’s needed, he’s there. If he doesn’t have that game and there are teething problems when he’s needed against Heidenheim, then it’s difficult. It’s similar with Maxi. Mats Pannewig finally played 45 minutes. And it was also good to see Lennart Koerdt, for me one of the biggest talents at VfL.”

So the 90 minutes have served their purpose, now the VfL pros can put their feet up for a few days. The coach has given them until Monday inclusive. His reasoning: “We’ve done it this way because we don’t play until Sunday against Heidenheim. Then we have a five-day week to prepare. “

I said to the players at half-time, it’s better to commit a foul when in doubt. If there’s a set-piece situation, we can practise it for Heidenheim

Thomas Letsch

And then it may well come down to set-pieces, which currently make Heidenheim highly dangerous. Heidenheim’s Jan-Niklas Beste in particular poses a danger.

Curious: Due to this fact, Letsch even advised his team to draw a foul in case of doubt, as he explained: “I said to the players at half-time, it’s better to draw a foul in case of doubt. If there’s a set-piece situation, we can practise it for Heidenheim.”