Matarazzo: “We need maturity to hold firm”

Pellegrino Matarazzo on…

…anticipation ahead of the game in Bochum: “The excitement is huge. The atmosphere on a Friday night in Bochum is special.”

…the remaining fixtures: “I’m not interested in the rest of the fixture list, just the game in Bochum. Bochum are in the relegation zone, they will definitely be a tough team for us to go up against.”

…what can be learned from the game against Mönchengladbach: “In my opinion, we didn’t get off to a good start in the training week after the Gladbach game, as there were certain points of friction. A team is a complex organisation and a certain group dynamic can develop. I expressed my disagreement with the situation. There are still four matches to go, there’s no reason not to leave everything out on the pitch every day. We’ll decide on a route and go down it together. But the friction has done us good, because yesterday we could see a good reaction. We’re prepared for tomorrow’s game, it’s now a matter of putting that into practice. I believe in ‘keep winning’ rather than ‘never change a winning team’. We’ll look at the opposition and then decide who plays.”

…tactical considerations: „”In the reverse fixture, we scored a lot of goals in line with our game plan. However, the decisive factor in this one will not be tactics, but rather the decisions we make. Whether we play to their strengths or find solutions to play to our strengths. We also have to be intense in the one-on-one battles.”

…the change in coach at VfL: “Heiko Butscher already announced when he took charge that he didn’t want to change much. Their fundamental approach has changed somewhat, but they are currently mainly focused on bringing passion and energy onto the pitch. They are capable of putting an opposing team under extreme pressure. We need maturity to hold firm.”

…Wout Weghorst: “Wout has put in some of his best performances for us in recent weeks. He is a leading player, who is always proactive and does all he can to play at his best level. He always gives one-hundred percent. That’s why his form has been on the up recently.”

The personnel situation:

In addition to the two long-term absentees Marco John and Mergim Berisha, Stanley Nsoki is still missing due to hip problems. Dennis Geiger is also unavailable, while Bambasé Conté is absent due to illness.

The opposition’s form:

VfL Bochum have gone without a win in their last eight league games and have slipped down into the relegation play-off spot.

Head-to-head record:

Based on previous results, a draw is unlikely: VfL Bochum have won five games, while TSG have won four. The spoils have never been shared in any of the meetings between the two sides.