Thomas Letsch’s debut as the new head coach at VfL Bochum failed. The Westphalians remain without a win after the 0: 4 (0: 2) at RB Leipzig.
Thomas Letsch pursed his lips, frowned and thoughtfully rubbed his chin while the team faced the displeasure of the Bochum fans who had traveled with them. “A bitter afternoon for us,” said striker Gerrit Holtmann, summing up the 0: 4 (0: 2) from bottom of the table VfL Bochum at RB Leipzig on Sky: “This is our first week in the new system. That shouldn’t be an excuse, we know that it doesn’t work that way.” But: “There is no such thing as giving up.”
Leipzig’s storm stars Timo Werner and Christopher Nkunku spoiled Letsch’s debut. The recently often scolded Werner and Nkunku shone in the well-deserved victory with a brace each.
In addition to Werner (15th/53rd), who celebrated his goals 100 and 101 in the RB dress, Nkunku (23rd) first scored a penalty kick and in the 85th after a strong attack. Nkunku (64′) even hit the post in the second half.
Bochum, who started badly historically and were still well served with the result, are still without a win with one point from eight games. For Letsch, who recently inherited the dismissed Thomas Reis, the road to staying up in this form will be a long one.
On the other hand, Marco Rose, who replaced Domenico Tedesco at the beginning of September, celebrated his second win in four competitive games as RB coach and made amends for the 3-0 defeat at Borussia Mönchengladbach before the international break.
For Letsch, who has been friends with Rose since their time together at Red Bull Salzburg, the Leipzig coach found encouraging words after the final whistle. “Sometimes it just takes time. I think he’ll get there,” said Rose sky.
Leipzig vs. Bochum: RB comes into play more
Bochum’s five-man chain should be stable, but the hosts quickly found their gaps. After a great combination via Dominik Szoboszlai and Andre Silva, who Rose had recently certified as good training performance, Werner (6th) was completely free in front of the VfL goal and shot from 14 meters to the post.
Silva (14th) aimed just wide from the edge of the penalty area before Werner did better. A rebound flew from Marcel Halstenberg directly into the barrel of the national striker, who executed calmly.
The guests managed almost no relief at the front and had to tremble at the back again and again. After the break, Letsch reacted to the weak first half with a triple substitution – but Leipzig made the goals.
Somehow Werner pushed the ball over the line after Silva had failed at the post. Nkunku also put his second penalty kick on the aluminum a little later, but shortly before the final whistle he scored goal number two.
RB Leipzig – VfL Bochum: The voices
Marco Rose (RB Leipzig coach): “It was a good game for us. It was important not to concede a goal. We scored four goals and conceded very little. Two attacking players scored in Timo and Christo. I still have to say that Andre Silva played very well. Overall it was a solid team performance. An important win at the beginning of this difficult block.”
Thomas Letsch (coach VfL Bochum): “The conclusion is relatively simple. There are no two opinions either. We were inferior to the opponent in every respect. I will be careful not to talk about the opponent. We have to look at ourselves. We gave the opponent far too much space and Leipzig invited to score goals. It could have been even more.”
RB Leipzig – VfL Bochum: The data for the game
Leipzig: Gulacsi – Simakan (Henrichs 60), Orban, Gvardiol, Halstenberg (Room 73) – Schlager (Haidara 73), Kampl – Szoboszlai (Forsberg 73), Timo Werner (Novoa 82) – Silva, Nkunku. – Coach: Rose
