De Wit & Co.: Increase in form – and yet a lot of frustration

In the end, Bochum’s goalscorer Dani de Wit is frustrated.
IMAGO/Team 2

It’s strange: After a somewhat bumpy opening few minutes, VfL Bochum had by far the best half of the current season. After the 2:4 in Dortmund, the question marks predominate. It wasn’t the first time that Peter Zeidler’s team ended up empty-handed despite being in the lead.

Is it a trend? An indication of insufficient physical condition? Of course, Zeidler vigorously blocks this assumption. “I know these statistics too, but the team isn’t supposed to be physically fit? I can’t understand that; in the final phase, for example, I didn’t see any differences.”

Almost a kilometer more (114.44 km) than Borussia Dortmund and Bochum ran, but it was also clear that the team lost track after the extremely strong phase in the first half and could have lost even more clearly given Dortmund’s increased chances ( 11:4).

However: The guests themselves had great opportunities to score more goals than just the two from Matus Bero and the first Bochum goal from Dani de Wit. Dortmund coach Nuri Sahin, for example, described the scene as a “killer moment” when Myron Boadu made a long run towards the Dortmund goal, but placed the ball just to the left of the box. Substitute Moritz Broschinski later missed a huge opportunity against his former club.

No own goal after the break, but already nine goals conceded

Most recently against Kiel, VfL conceded the equalizer in the final phase after a 2-1 lead; in Freiburg they were leading and ended up losing 1-2. After the break, VfL did not score a single goal, but conceded nine. It was also clear in Dortmund that after the break the intensity decreased and the gaps became too big. “We did much better,” said Felix Passlack at his old place of work, “in the first half.”

It’s also about finding the right balance. Wild phases with counter-pressing, but after that VfL must also be able to save points without completely losing the line or offering the opponent too many spaces. VfL has proven itself in the relegation battle in recent years primarily because it always brought great intensity and volume to the pitch. At least this is not consistently observed under Zeidler.

But you can also see, and especially in the first half, that the team is doing better and better at implementing what Zeidler says. In any case, the coach’s corrections were correct: three more defensive-minded strategists in the midfield behind playmaker Dani de Wit, that fits and should be the new line-up, for example in the next home game against VfL Wolfsburg, when the hosts are already under a lot of pressure.

Zeidler still has to wait for his first win with VfL

Clearly visible, possibly also in connection with the slightly changed system, the increase in form of Ibrahima Sissoko and of course de Wit, who scored his first goal in the Bochum jersey. The Dutchman covered 13.03 kilometers, provided some fun and also worked very intensively towards the back. “His running strength was good for us, his passes and ideas, and he defended very passionately at the back,” praised Zeidler.

The coach can claim that his recent measures have been fruitful. However, Zeidler is still waiting for his first win with VfL. That’s why the pressure before the game against Wolfsburg on Saturday is enormous.