Interview
Anton prior to the game against Bochum: "Have some amends to make"
How do you want to approach the game against Bochum?
Gregor Kobel: "When you play at home, you always want to score a goal very early. You want to show the opponent straightaway how things are today, that there's nothing for them here. And that's exactly how we want to go out onto the pitch and start."
How do you assess VfL Bochum?
Waldemar Anton: "It will be an intense match. I think that we know Bochum very well. A hard-running, tough-tackling team. Nonetheless, we want to produce a 100% performance, do the basics and win the match."
Kobel: "I think that Bochum have so far always played well away to us. They already won two years ago, if I recall. With that in mind, we're certainly in for a tough match. They will want to pick up their first victory, they will fight, they will put their foot on the gas. For us, it will be about us reacting very quickly, showing a different side to ourselves compared to the last game and doing everything we can to get the three points and get back on track."
Is the feeling before a derby different to the one prior to normal Bundesliga games?
Anton: "Yes, it's a very, very special feeling. I know the situation when you have derby games. It's something very, very special. I'm looking forward to the game, we're all looking forward to the game. We certainly have some amends to make. We definitely want to do better, much better than the last game. We'll have to reach our top performance in order to win the game."
You will have the loud away block behind you in the second half, Gregor. Do you feel that on the pitch?
Kobel: "You are aware of it, but it's part and parcel of it all. I'm a player who likes to play at home. I think that we have one of the most amazing stadiums, if not the most amazing stadium of all. But I also like to play away games now and again. I think there is sometimes a great energy when it's a bit more hostile. I just enjoy it when it's loud, when there's emotion. I hope it's a really lively encounter."
Waldemar, you know Bochum's striker Philipp Hofmann very well, you've already played against him seven times. What kind of striker is he?
Anton: "A player who is in the box a lot, who needs balls in the box. That's when he is dangerous. That's also when you have to defend very well. But I think we've trained and analysed that during the week and will do it well in the game."
Is the pressure to win the game high?
Kobel: "Definitely. I think we have to go into a lot of matches like that. It's often like this: a little derby and at home too – there's no question at all that we have to show what we're made of and get the three points."