On Saturday, their paths will cross in the Revier derby at Castroper Straße. Thomas Reis and Marco Rose went through their coaching training together and have been good friends ever since.
At least a brief contact will be enough for the two head coaches on Saturday. In Bochum, however, only VfL coach Thomas Reis is allowed to direct his team from the sidelines; after his yellow card in the game against Bayern, colleague Marco Rose is condemned to watch.
Both know each other very well from the 61st football coaching course in 2014/15. “We were even bench neighbours and did a lot together,” says Thomas Reis. A very good relationship resulted from this time, even if it was only rarely enough to meet in person.
For example, Reis congratulated his colleague with a personal message when Marco Rose won the Youth League with the youth team of RB Salzburg. And, of course, intensively followed his colleague’s path via Borussia Mönchengladbach to BVB. “We had planned to meet every now and then, but for a variety of reasons it didn’t work out,” says Reis regretfully.
At least on the sidelines of the game, even if not inside, there will certainly be a meeting and a brief exchange on Saturday. Otherwise: “There are enough experts on the Dortmund side who will intervene, but of course it is always difficult when the head coach is not on the line himself,” says Reis.
We have worked hard to be able to play a derby like this again.
In any case, the Bochum coach is going into this match with great anticipation, that is obvious with all due respect to the Revier rivals. “We have worked hard to be able to play a derby like this again,” says Reis. “We will approach this game accordingly.” There hasn’t been a Revierderby in the Bundesliga for ten years, so now the time has come on Saturday.
The promoted team has already proven its quality at Castroper Straße, for example, it has only conceded four goals at home, the best figure in the league. Moreover, Bochum have won all three of their most recent home games and have already recorded four home victories this season. That’s twice as many as at the end of the 2009/10 relegation season.
Riemann facing comeback – Lions missing until end of year
Good for VfL: There are signs of a comeback for regular keeper Manuel Riemann, who most recently had to take a break in the 3:2 in Augsburg due to thigh problems. Riemann is about to play his 200th competitive match for Bochum. In return, Eduard Löwen will be out until the end of the year. The powerful midfielder tested positive for the corona virus and will have to spend two weeks in quarantine at home.
Also noteworthy: In the last seven games, Bochum have picked up 15 points, the same number as their opponents Dortmund. In this period, only FC Bayern collected more points, namely a total of 18.
At the latest after the second away win in Augsburg, VfL comes across as extremely self-confident. At the same time, however, Reis admits with a view to the next opponent: “Dortmund, that’s a completely different quality. It’s clear that we have to push ourselves to the limit in order to prevail. “
