"He's a legend": Asano shoots Bochum to their first win
The Japanese journalists had a lot to report back home after the interview with Takuma Asano in the Darmstadt 98 mixed zone.
For VfL Bochum, the two goals for the 2:1 (1:1) and thus the first Bundesliga win of the season were particularly valuable. "That was just the beginning, we want to get more points step by step," said the 28-year-old attacking player, who became famous in Germany for scoring the winning goal against Germany at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar (2:1).
The brace in the basement duel with the promoted Hessian side could be both a liberating blow and a turnaround for the Revierclub after nine previous games without a win, although there is still plenty of room for improvement in terms of play.
"He is a legend"
"I think we can still improve and more is possible," said Asano, who had not scored in six league games recently. In total, he increased his goal tally for Bochum to twelve. "He's a legend, a super player," enthused defender Bernardo after the fortunate win for the two-goal scorer.
In the fight against relegation, the situation is now better with a total of nine points than last season, when they only managed four points at the same time. They have also overtaken Darmstadt (7) in the table. Despite the first win of the season, VfL coach Thomas Letsch was not really happy.
The long wait for the final whistle after the Asano goals (25th and 54th minute) and Fabian Nürnberger's equalizer shortly before the break to make it 1:1 had frayed his nerves. "We managed to win with a little bit of luck, the necessary effectiveness and a strong Takuma Asano," said the 55-year-old. The fact that his team's performance was rather poor was of secondary importance to him. "Whether we played like Manchester City or in the second division doesn't interest me at all," grumbled Letsch.
Asano makes the difference
"Who would have expected anything else after nine games without a win," said his captain Anthony Losilla. "It's completely normal that we don't have the confidence to play beautiful soccer." It was a "fifty-fifty" game in which Asano made the difference, he said. "It wasn't our best and most beautiful game," admitted midfielder Kevin Stöger: "We got our first three points, that's what counts. Everyone can be over the moon today."
Their next opponents are 1. FC Köln and 1. FC Heidenheim - two other direct rivals for relegation. "We now have more breathing space, but we must not make the mistake of becoming too arrogant," warned Losilla. Bochum can definitely rely on the speedy winger Asano, who is nicknamed the "Jaguar from Japan". "I'll give everything for the team," assured the 28-year-old.
Takuma Asano's goals against Darmstadt 98, scoring in the 25th and 54th minutes, were crucial for VfL Bochum to secure their first Bundesliga win of the season, with Asano's brace leading to a 2:1 victory. Following the game, Asano's teammate, defender Bernardo, praised him, saying, "He's a legend, a super player."
Source: www.dpa.com
