Olaf Thon was there live when VfL Bochum achieved something memorable on Saturday. Why the 1990 world champion “didn’t doubt for a second” that the promoted team would win after the 4:1 interval score.
“Even with a 4:1 lead at the break, you can never be sure, especially as a promoted team, that you have already bagged the three points against FC Bayern,” said Olaf Thon. “I was lucky enough to be there live at the Castroper Straße stadium on Saturday and I have to say that after the 4:1 I didn’t doubt for a second that VfL Bochum would win. “
The former FC Bayern professional saw “how Julian Nagelsmann tried to have an influence, but I also experienced how well the Bochum team was set up.” Thon even describes the Munich team’s game management as “simply stupid”. Above all, “because they gave the fast Bochum players far too much space, especially on the outer lanes. On top of that came the dream goals of the VfL. It was a phenomenal performance in all respects.”
With the 4:2 against the industry leader, the promoted team has set “another sign” in the league, and Thon predicts that VfL will have nothing to do with direct relegation. On the one hand, Bochum looks far too solid, on the other hand, the competition is too weak.
Thon also has a clear stance on this: “If Stuttgart don’t also manage to show a similar sign in the next three or four games as Bochum are doing now, I’m sure that VfB won’t get their act together. I would even go so far as to say that Stuttgart must be careful not to be overtaken by Fürth. The Swabians basically have the playing class, but the euphoria is completely gone – just like the self-confidence.”
The former FC Schalke 04 top performer finds the explosive atmosphere surrounding the relegation spot “extremely exciting”. Here, too, he does not believe that VfL Bochum will get into trouble yet, the same goes for “Gladbach as well as Wolfsburg, who managed an outstanding move with the signing of Max Kruse”. For Hertha BSC, on the other hand, “it’s still going to be a hairy affair to stay in the league”.
