Generally, Thomas Reis agreed with his team’s performance in Mönchengladbach (1:2). Nevertheless, personnel changes are on the horizon for Saturday’s home match against TSG Hoffenheim. Eduard Löwen, for example, is threatened with a mental break.
The expectations were high, but Löwen has delivered very little so far. The midfielder’s most spectacular action of the current season came during his Olympic appearance for the German team. In the group match against the Ivory Coast, he twirled a free kick into the opponent’s goal with technical perfection and showed his existing skills with the ball.
There has been little of that in Bochum so far, apart from a few fine passes and – rare – goal finishes. Not for the first time, coach Thomas Reis remarked that Löwen obviously felt obliged to conjure up very special things on the pitch.
The VfL coach has therefore repeatedly sought talks with the midfielder, who admittedly had very little match practice in Berlin last year and is looking for his best form. “I’ve already told him several times that nobody expects him to show something very special all the time,” Reis said. “It would be better for the team if he limited himself to the simple things.”
Because of his participation in the Olympic tournament, Löwen naturally did not have the ideal start in his new surroundings. But the midfielder had already shown what he was capable of in the first test matches and training sessions, so naturally the expectations on him were not low. However, the 24-year-old has not really got rolling yet, and that is another reason why he is threatened with a place on the reserve bench against Hoffenheim on Saturday.
Rexhbecaj delivers exactly what is required from Löwen
In manning his centre, Reis will naturally rely on his captain Anthony Losilla, who always leads the way as a perpetual runner and organiser and is virtually indispensable. Wolfsburg loanee Elvis Rexhbecaj will also be in the line-up, who basically delivers exactly what is required of Löwen. As a hard worker, he is always fully committed, plays clearly and straightforwardly, not spectacularly, but important for the team.
The third man in central midfield could be Milos Pantovic, who can play in several positions, but once again presented himself in good form as a wild card in Mönchengladbach.
Will VfL Bochum keep its clean sheet again?
By the way, on Saturday two of the five teams that have so far gone four times in ten matchdays without conceding a goal will meet at Castroper Straße. In addition to Hoffenheim, these are Freiburg, Wolfsburg, Mainz – and VfL Bochum.
By the way, three opponents have already experienced that it is not easy to score in Bochum. Only in the 1:3 against Hertha did VfL concede at home. The promoted team kept its clean sheet at home against Mainz, Stuttgart and Frankfurt.
