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Letsch and Bochum confident against BVB

GAt 54, Thomas Letsch is not that young anymore, and the coach of VfL Bochum has already experienced a lot – for example a European Cup duel with Tottenham Hotspur during his time at Vitesse Arnhem or a cup final lost against Ajax Amsterdam as well as charged city derbies as coach of the Austria Vienna. And yet it would not be surprising if less diligent TV viewers asked VfL Bochum’s DFB Cup duel with Borussia Dortmund (8.45 p.m., in the FAZ live ticker for the DFB Cup, on ZDF and on Sky): Who is this actually? Bald coach there?

Finally, Letsch himself is a little amazed at where he has now arrived, having actually planned a career as a teacher of mathematics and physical education. “Basically, I enjoy every moment of this trip,” he says before what is perhaps the biggest game of his career so far, “a round of 16, a derby in front of a home crowd, that’s something very special.”

In any case, Letsch will attract more attention in this duel with the giants from the neighboring city than during his previous appearances in the Bundesliga, where he achieved amazing things. Before the coach, who was born in Esslingen in Swabia and developed in the southern German orbit of Ralf Rangnick, made his debut in Bochum on the eighth matchday, VfL was considered a safe relegation candidate. The club was one point in last place in the table, and most observers no longer trusted VfL to have another sugar-sweet underdog year like after the promotion in 2021. “We’re the smallest light in the league and try to make sure that doesn’t matter,” says Letsch. But it works great.

“It just fits together”

No sooner had this coach arrived in Bochum at the end of September than the team began to string one victory after the next in their home stadium. The Revierklub have won all five home games under Letsch, and they have collected 15 of the 19 points in the Bundesliga in these games. That’s a strength that also has to inspire respect in Dortmund, especially since they felt how uncomfortable it is to play in this special stadium in the 1-1 draw at VfL last season.

What energies are released when the adrenaline sloshes from the ranks onto the pitch and the underdog’s belief in their own way of playing grows ever stronger. They even defeated FC Bayern 4-2 last season. Such experiences fuel the belief that more surprises are possible. Against Dortmund and why not again against Munich, where Bochum will be a guest next Saturday. “Since the new coach has arrived, we have found our course again. It just fits together,” says Captain Anthony Losilla. “It must be so.”

Beer, bratwurst, Grönemeyer

The core aspects of the recipe for success have not changed: they defend well organized and passionately, only to then switch with their fast wingers. Just like when they stayed in the league a year ago, VfL plays intensely, pragmatically and with a clear concept. That’s why the situation feels very similar, says Losilla and praises the coach’s work: “Actually, we have roughly the same principle, but we go into more detail, we try to perfect our game from week to week.”

Despite the threat of relegation, setbacks have not been a major problem so far. His team “managed to get back on track” after a weak away game, says Letsch, after his team won 5-2 against Hoffenheim after a 5-2 defeat last weekend.

Perhaps this much-celebrated stadium on Castroper Strasse, which was raved about all the time after promotion last season, actually plays a role. Here you can still experience football pretty much the way it was 30 years ago: with beer, bratwurst, Grönemeyer’s “Bochum” and a team that gets its own crowd going on the good days.

The assumption that this magic could lose strength in the second Bundesliga year has definitely turned out to be a misjudgment, and now the power of the series is also having an effect: “It does make a difference if you win five games in a row, you approach it differently a game like that,” says Letsch before the duel against BVB, who is also in pretty good shape ahead of what is probably the most exciting district derby this season has to offer.

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