German League - "Bochum's relegation heroes declare they've made history"
In the western region, the entertainment district of Bochum, Bermudadreieck, witnessed an abundance of beer until the wee hours of the morning. Post the thrilling relegation game, VfL Bochum experienced a remarkable comeback that left everyone speechless. The "Ihr, Wir, in Year 4" T-shirts were still in the car, and no one expected this epic celebration in the dressing room at the Düsseldorf EM Stadium.
"We were upfront," stated sports director Patrick Fabian. "No one had any faith in us," stated the 36-year-old after VfL secured their league survival and a fourth season in the Bundesliga with a 6:5 win in the penalty shootout in the dying seconds.
In 25 relegation matches, there was just one penalty shootout prior - in 1988. No team had ever come back from a three-goal deficit in the playoffs. "We're here, we've made it. We've written history," said interim coach Heiko Butscher, who had his players practice the penalty shootout during training sessions. "The shooters knew what they had to do," the coach emphasized, explaining the lengthy practice sessions. "I thought about how we could still achieve this," said team captain Anthony Losilla.
Ilkay Gündogan, a former Bochumer and now a national player for FC Barcelona, shared his excitement on social media. "Unbelievable! What an incredible relegation match! Congratulations to my former club on their league survival... what a comeback!"
Surreal moments transpired at the stadium on Monday following Uchino Takashi's miss during the penalty shootout for Düsseldorf. The Düsseldorf fans had prepped their promotion choreography, a fan march to the stadium, and celebrated their return to the Bundesliga. The elation spilled over in the Bochum block, where the players cheered wildly. Meanwhile, many Düsseldorf players wept, possibly due to discussing the party location and promotion ceremony at the town hall.
The players from Bochum have had an unforgettable experience, especially for interim coach Heiko Butscher, who will likely return to his previous role as U21 coach in Bochum. "I'm thrilled to have been a part of this story. I've been through a lot. It's a small consolation because many didn't believe in our abilities," said the 36-year-old coach.
For Butscher, securing a spot in the Bundesliga is a goal. "I know what I can achieve and that I'm a good coach. I have a lot of humility. It doesn't have to be next year; it could take five years," said the coach.
Though VfL managed to survive the relegation, not everything is perfect on Castrop Street. Fabian's future is also uncertain. The seasoned Bochum professional resented the criticism circulating and felt internally betrayed. "Criticism is one thing. Spreading falsehoods - that's not what the VfL Bochum stands for. We must change that. Bochum needs community," said Fabian.
Coach Daniel Thioune of Fortuna faces a challenging time helping his players process the event. "They can take as much time as they need. This was a difficult day," said Thioune. The usually composed coach was emotionally drained himself. "Half of the boys could be my sons. They were devastated, cried, and as a coach, you have to dry their tears."
Board member Klaus Allofs assured fans for the upcoming season, "We'll try again." The best players, such as Christos Tzolis and Isaak Johannesson, or Ao Tanaka, might not be re-signed due to the loss of potential television money. Allofs still believes they'll have another chance. "This was another step forward. Now we'll see if we can maintain the momentum," said the board member. "Then comes the day when we clinch promotion."
Read also:
- Prodigies of sport: Littler's predecessors
- Nagelsmann's announcement: A restless Christmas for national team players
- What sports fans prefer to watch on television
- The calm before the upheaval: Nagelsmann's European Championship plans
Source: www.stern.de
