Post-Match Report
Postgame Reactions: “The Team Is Making Progress”
Lars Ricken (in the mixed zone): “This win wasn’t a given. We’ve been on the road a lot since the end of August. We kept turning up the pressure and eventually had Eintracht where we wanted them. It’s great to know that two players who came off the bench decided the game for us. Of course, it’s also good for our confidence when we not only feel like we were the better team but also walk away with three points.”
Niko Kovac (during the press conference): “After such a demanding stretch of days, we had to dig deep in this match against a very good Eintracht team. In the second half, we were able to increase the pressure, prevented opposition chances, and walked off the field deserved winners. Coming off those tough away games, What I care about most is that we beat a quality side. That's our takeaway, and we hope we can do it again in a few days.”
Maxi Beier (on Sky): “I practice those shots a lot in training. Of course, I’m happy that it went in like that. Believing in [our ability to score late] is the most important thing. If you don’t believe in it, you've already failed. It’s been a demanding few weeks so far, but we all love the game and being out on the field.”
Felix Nmecha (in the mixed zone): “We had the chances, but in the end that final touch wasn’t quite there. At the same time, it feels good that we created so many chances. That just goes to show the nature of football these days: You have so many games, and you need a strong roster. In the end, we provided proof of that by having two players come on and make the difference.”
Nico Schlotterbeck (on Sky): “It was a ton of fun. We allowed a few chances in the first half, and then none whatsoever in the second half. We’ve now kept five clean sheets in seven games. If we had held on for two more minutes against Bremen, we'd be talking about six out of seven. That’s really good. The four of us in the back work really well together. We dominated the second half and earned the win through compact defending. Maxi put his quality on display. That shot into the far corner is his specialty. Noah [Atubolu] had been making quality saves up to that point, but he couldn’t stop that one. We're not perfect yet, but the team is making progress. Next week, we’re off to take on Bayern. We want to play a strong game there. Before that, we’re up against Bremen. They’re in good form. I expect a high-intensity affair. The shortest path to silverware is the domestic cup."
Gregor Kobel (in the mixed zone): “We were the more proactive team, even though Frankfurt played pretty well in the first half. We created a lot of good moments. We controlled the game and kept generating chances. We had the better chances. It was a well-deserved win.”
Recorded by Boris Rupert