"I don't know how she did it!" - Bero credits wife for predicting Bochum's Bundesliga survival
When asked about the gravity of Bochum's miraculous achievement tonight, Matús Bero beamed with joy. His side had just fought back from a 3-0 first-leg defecit to restore parity at 3-3, and snatch top-flight survival on penalties.
“We did something special and we did it as a team. I have to shout out all my teammates, all the staff, and physios who helped us through this difficult time after the first game [vs Düsseldorf]. They put signs of belief everywhere, we believed, and this is the result," he said.
The Slovakian midfielder felt the first-leg result aided the mindset of his teammates. He explained that while Düsseldorf would think defensively, Bochum had to be assertive and positively attack the game. That one goal could make the difference.
"We knew if we went a goal up the game would turn to our side. We knew once we scored that first goal we will push and the opponent can struggle," he added.
Bero went on to explain how Liverpool, famous for their Champions League final comeback against AC Milan in Istanbul, are his idols. He stated his wife pre-empted Bochum's Bundesliga play-off miracle the night before.
"I was listening to my wife because she told me yesterday 'you will turn it around and stay in the Bundesliga', so I don't know how she did it! She told me she had a dream; so now I have to go to the dressing room, wear my [wedding] ring and text her," Bero chuckled.
Finally, the 28-year-old was asked to describe what is so special about the club and how it fights to the bitter end in every game.
"It [Bochum] is a football club which is about fans, players, hard work, and giving everything for the team. If you do that you get the support which you deserve and we did it today; not only with us but our amazing supporters.
"The needed a little bit [of motivation] to cheer up with the first goal, but after that they were incredibly good. Sometimes people will doubt you but these guys [Bochum fans] are always behind us if we win or lose. The are the twelfth player and that is the spirit of Bochum," the Slovakian concluded.
The 6-5 penalty shoot-out win cements VfL Bochum's German top-flight status for another campaign. This will be their fourth consecutive season in the Bundesliga since achieving promotion in 2020/21.