Bochum secured just their second point of the Bundesliga season with an impressive last-minute equalizer by Koji Miyoshi, denying Bayer Leverkusen a win in the closing stages. Having struggled through their first nine games and amassing only one point, Bochum showed renewed determination under newly appointed head coach Dieter Hecking, who guided his side to a memorable 1-1 draw against Xabi Alonso’s team.
Hecking’s Leadership Sparks New Belief
Dieter Hecking, who was previously in charge at Wolfsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach, took over Bochum last week and has already had an impact on his new club. Gerrit Holtmann spoke after the match about the change Hecking has brought to the team, citing the coach’s confidence and influence. “He’s a special coach with presence and charisma,” Holtmann noted. “He has a way of instilling belief in us, and he’s brought a sense of stability that we needed.”
Hecking’s influence was evident on the pitch, as Bochum’s players exhibited a newfound resilience against a title-contending opponent. Despite being out of Bundesliga management for over five years, the 60-year-old coach displayed his experience, motivating a team that had previously struggled to secure positive results.
Coach’s Pragmatism Key to Bochum’s Improvement
Remaining humble following the result, Hecking downplayed the significance of the draw. “I would have been pleased with the team’s performance even if we had lost 1-0,” he said. “The players gave an excellent account of themselves, which isn’t easy when you’re adapting to a new coaching style.”
The hard-earned point represents a significant step forward for Bochum, who now face back-to-back away fixtures against Stuttgart and Bochum after the international break. With Hecking at the helm, the team hopes to continue building momentum as they work toward lifting themselves out of the relegation zone.
