Letsch commits to Schlotterbeck, Ordets, and Janko against Hertha
VfL Bochum trainer Thomas Letsch provided updates on his potential lineup selections for this weekend's home fixture against Hertha at a Thursday presser.
VfL Bochum trainer Thomas Letsch declared himself satisfied with the progress of new January acquisition Keven Schlotterbeck; to then point that the the Revierklub gaffer guaranteed the Freiburg-loanee a start alongside Ivan Ordets in this weekend's fixture against Hertha. As for January's other big acquisition, former Mainz midfielder Pierre Kunde-Malong, Letsch seemed to indicate that the Cameroonian international would be rotated in against Leverkusen midweek.
Bochum have played more test fixtures than any other Bundesliga club during the extended winter break. Letsch has largely been running a 4-1-4-1 with newly re-signed captain Anthony Losilla working as a semi-sweeper pincer. An attack spearheaded by lead striker Philipp Hofmann, flanked by Takuma Asano and Christopher Antwi-Ajei, and buttressed by Bundesliga veterans Kevin Stöger and Philipp Förster seems the most likely constellation to be deployed against the visiting "alte Dame",
Hertha trainer Sandro Schwarz also provided squad updates at a presser earlier today. The clash can be considered a crucial battle between two relegation-threatened sides. Letsch seems to have the more consistent side, thus making the hosts favorites to capture all three points. The VfL gaffer did have a spot of bad news to report, however, in the form of right-back Cristian Gamboa's recent injury. The Costa Rican international will be lost for about a month to a knee injury.
Gamboa's loss accords Letsch the chance to start journeyman fullback Saidy Janko, in whom the VfL head-coach has already invested a great deal of confidence. Janko suffered a broken nose in a recent test fixture, but Letsch was quick to point out that the 27-year-old can play just fine with a mask. Midfielder Konstantinos Stayfilidis, Letsch also revealed, remains out with a broken rib. That too shouldn't be problematic as the Greek defensive midfielder hadn't been factoring into Letsch's plans.