Pellegrino Matarazzo on…
…the match on Saturday: “It’s an important game, we’re aware of that. We showed before the international break that we have undergone a development. Now it’s a case of delivering. We want to keep the three points with us. We can cope with pressure. The 1-1 draw in Stuttgart was not sufficient to put us in a calmer region of the table. We need to internalise who we are. We need to bring the spirit that we had on the pitch in Stuttgart onto the field again. Then we will pick up many points.”
…the opposition: “Bochum will have used the international break to reset themselves. They play a direct game going forward and press high. They play a lot of crosses from deep. We have to prepare for an intense match.”
…Bochum’s coach Peter Zeidler: “It is something special to play against him. We’ve seen each other many times, in friendly matches for example. I have very positive memories of Peter. I’ve learned a lot from him and I’m really looking forward to seeing him again. Peter is a great person.”
…the international window: “Oliver Baumann’s debut was outstanding from the beginning to the end. The composure, the aura and the saves – it was all super. There were many successful results for our boys. That of course makes me happy. In addition, they all returned healthy. There’s a good energy.”
…the results to date: “I’m convinced by the work that we have done as a coaching staff and as a team. Football is and remains a results sport, that’s a fact. In the end it’s about points and the table. The team belongs in a different part of the table. We want to change that.”
The personnel situation:
There is no change with regard to the long-term injury absentees. Pavel Kadeřábek and David Jurásek are also out with muscle injuries. Stanley Nsoki remains suspended. Dennis Geiger is doubtful. Mergim Berisha has been back in team training since Thursday.
The opposition’s form:
VfL Bochum will travel to TSG Hoffenheim in last place in the table. Coach Peter Zeidler’s team have only one point on the board and have also already been eliminated from the DFB-Pokal. Bochum urgently need positive results.
The head-to-head record:
The clubs have previously met on 10 occasions in the Bundesliga but there has not yet been a draw. VfL have won six matches, while TSG have triumphed four times. Hoffenheim won 3-1 at home last season, while Bochum also won 3-2 on home turf.
Match facts and statistics »
