Tuchel: "We gave an optimal performance"

What did you make of today's game?
"I think we gave a complete performance with regard to all areas of our game. In doing so, we were able to show that our achievement against Warsaw this week was no fluke. We wanted to maintain that level, and bring the same tempo into this match. We managed to do that, also because we played with a certain aggression, as well as with determination to force our way into the final third. We controlled the game from start to finish, and won deservedly. Things became even easier after the second yellow and sending off. By the end of the match, we had scored many goals, which were also very easy on the eye, giving our fans a great afternoon's entertainment.

What was required today to get past Darmstadt?
"We knew that Darmstadt can defend more tightly and with greater biliousness than Warsaw. To play against a basic formation consisting of a back five with a line of four in front of it is probably the hardest test you can face. In order to get the first goal, you require the right combination of speed and patience. Of course, a certain amount of pluck is also needed for one-on-one situations to unlock teams, which, when successful, give you the opportunity to outnumber your opponent when you had not been able to do so before. A passing game is insufficient to that end. We were able to put that into action today.

"We would be well advised to keep the pace high"

You went into the game without your top four offensive players, namely, Aubameyang, Götze, Reus and Schürrle. The younger players such as Dembélé, Pulisic, Guerreiro & Co. showed a lot of courage. Could their fearlessness be the key?
"It was the right combination that won it for us at the end of the day. The most important characteristic they need to demonstrate is an ability to play in those positions where they currently can and should be for us. That is why we brought them in. They are here to bring velocity onto the field of play, to be brave enough to come down the wings before cutting into the middle of the park, in order to overwhelm the opposition in terms of numbers and to dribble the ball into dangerous areas. That is their natural inclination. They are currently most valuable to us in these positions. The other players offer them the perfect set up to be able to play as freely as possible. On the other hand, we expect them to play that way. We trust in these young players, otherwise we would not play them."

Mario Götze did not play today. Was there a special reason for that?
"There is a good reason for that. It was, purely and simply, a precautionary measure due to the level of Mario's involvement in the last few weeks. He has played two games for his country, and was included in the starting line-up for us twice. He has just recovered from an injury and is coming out of a phase in which the intensity was perhaps not so high. For that reason it was right to proceed with some caution. We wanted to bring him on so that we could finally bring the topic of "Mario Götze and a home match" to some kind of conclusion, and because we know that's what he wants. Unfortunately, that was no longer possible in the end, as Marcel Schmelzer had taken a bit of a battering and we opted for the safe option."

How do you evaluate the last two games together?
"We were clearly superior in both matches, both as a collective and in terms of our individual qualities. We were also clear favourites going into both games. We made the most of this role on both occasions and gave an optimal performance. We will of course though be subjected to further tests. We go again on Tuesday, and then once more on Friday. It is too early to draw any conclusions. We would be well advised to keep the pace high, to have high expectations of ourselves and to continue in this vein on Tuesday. That is how it must be." 

Transcribed by Dennis-Julian Gottschlich