Bochum celebrated just their second point of the season after Koji Miyoshi’s 89th minute equaliser secured a draw against Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. Heading into the game, VfL had just one point from their opening nine games but Dieter Hecking, appointed last week, guided his new club to a memorable draw against Xabi Alonso’s side.
Formerly of Wolfsburg and Borussia Mönchengladbach, Hecking has instilled self-confidence back into the squad, something that was echoed in Gerrit Holtmann’s post-match comments.
“He is an outstanding coach with charisma and aura who gives us something,” said Holtmann. “You simply believe everything he says. He gave us security.”
It was Hecking’s first Bundesliga game after five-and-a-half years, and 60-year-old remained modest after the game. He said: “I would have been happy with the team even if we had lost 1-0. They played an excellent game. It’s never easy when you start working with a new coach who wants to bring in new things.”
A vast improvement on recent results, they have successive away games against Stuttgart and Bochum after the international break.
