"It was a real battle that we dealt with very well"

Mats Hummels: "It is always tough to play in Gladbach, there is a reason we had not won here since 2009. The coach said in the build-up to the game that it would be a "match for men" - meaning not one where we would have an easy ride. We really took that on board well, and that's why we got a deserved victory here today. Gladbach had a few good opportunities of their own, of course, but ultimately we had the better of the chances. We have extended our lead over Mönchengladbach, Leverkusen and Hertha, which is fantastic."

Ilkay Gündogan: "During the game there were a few situations that were a bit of a close shave. For example the header that hit the bar towards the start, or the spell after they pulled one back when we were not quite so solid. But that is normal for a game like this. We dealt with the difficulties, put in a good performance and deserved to win 3-1. I knew before the match that Leverkusen and Hertha BSC had dropped points. So it was all the more important for us to get three on the board here today. The fact that we managed to do so against a good team like Borussia Mönchengladbach is brilliant."

"Successful start to the second half of the season"

Julian Weigl: "It was a real battle that we dealt with very well. Overall, I think we put in a good performance today, resisted Gladbach's pressure well in the second period and scored the goals at the right time. It was a successful start to the second half of the season, but we cannot afford to let up now. We need to continue in this vein."

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang: "We put in a good performance, though I am not entirely satisfied with my own. I always want to score goals, which I did not manage today. Yesterday in training almost every shot went in, but it did not happen today. It is annoying, but it is okay. These things happen. As long as we win, as long as we get the three points, then it is all fine." (djg)