dpa
Bochum, Germany
Bochum coach Dieter Hecking is confident that they can avoid Bundesliga relegation on Friday by winning at fellow strugglers Heidenheim.
Heidenheim are third last in the relegation play-off spot four points ahead of bottom side Bochum, and a Bochum defeat would confirm the drop with two games to spare.
Hundreds of Bochum fans attended the final training session on Thursday in support of the team, and around 3,000 of them are expected to make the trip to Heidenheim.
Bochum saved themselves via the play-offs last season, in a penalty shoot out against Fortuna Dusseldorf, and Hecking insisted after training that there is still all to play for.
“I knew that such a game would come. And I absolutely believe that we can win this game. I am thinking about nothing else,” he said.
“Let the game begin. I am looking forward to it. It will be a great match.” Bochum are winless in six matches since a 3-2 upset win at leaders Bayern Munich while Heidenheim won three matches in the same period and still have a chance to save themselves without the play-offs.
Bochum face a seventh relegation in club history but will however immediately seek promotion for what would be a sixth time.
Four years in the Bundesliga have given them financial stability, but key players like under-21 international Tim Oermann are expected to leave in the case of relegation, which however would give the additional income.
Hecking’s future is also unclear. Signed in autumn, he recently signed an extension beyond the season for the Bundesliga, but has not ruled out staying in the second tier.
