Post-Match Report
Postgame Reactions: “We Earned This Point”
Lars Ricken (in the mixed zone): “I really liked a lot about the game, but it should also be said that you naturally need a bit of luck when you play against Bayern — as well as a quality goalkeeper. Bayern didn’t expect us to play with a back four. That was one of the reasons we played very well in the first half. I liked that the team didn’t give up. Playing against Borussia Dortmund has been a difficult task for quite some time now.”
Ole Book (in the mixed zone): “We kept at it and kept coming back. It was an exciting game, but I felt good about the team’s performance the entire time — from the opening minute right through to the end. We appraoched the game with a brave lineup and mindset, and our coaches caught the opposition by surprise a bit when we executed our planned switch to a back four a few minutes in. We had a lot of possession in the first half. That’s certainly a step forward in terms of the way we want to play football. Having to weather a few storms in the second half, having to work hard on defense, and sometimes having to rely on the post being where it should to be — that’s all expected.”
Niko Kovac (during the press conference): "By fielding a back four, we were able to press Beyern much higher. Because of that, we had an additional player in the midfield, which is something we really took advantage of in the first half. Obviously, we had to keep tracking those deep runs by their outside backs, who continuously overlap. We did a good job of that — especially in the first half. Bayern put a lot of pressure on us in the second half, and obviously you need a bit of luck when playing in Munich. My players gave it their all throughout the 90 minutes. I feel we deserve this point.
Nico Schlotterbeck (on BVB-TV): “We played a very solid game and had stretches of possession. Of course, there were times when we had to suffer, but overall we did really well with our back-four press and earned this point. We’re a very good team and don't need to be afraid of anyone. Unfortunately, it’s only one point, but that's better than what we did against Bayern last year. It can serve as a confidence boost.”
Felix Nmecha (on Sky): “It was a good game by both teams. We had moments when we could’ve taken control, but so did Bayern. At times, it got a little wild. This game really had everything. We gave it our all, and in the end, it feels like we've earned a point rather than lost two. That's a good feeling.”
Gregor Kobel (on Sky): “We put in an extremely positive performance. We were very brave, tried a lot of things, and were rewarded with the result in the end. Although Bayern had their chances, I feel we earned a point through a lot of hard work. We know the qualities we possess. We set out to be brave. Niko [Kovac] made a brilliant move by switching to a back four. We played very brave and wanted to make things difficult for them.”
Fabio Silva: “We came here to win. That has to be our mindset this season. We have a lot of quality in our team, and we know we have a fantastic team this year. The guys who start and who come off the bench — they always make an impact. That's something we want everyone to see. My dad always told me that I have to smell the ball in the box, and I was there to [smell] the second ball. I’m glad I was able to help the team.”
Recorded by Boris Rupert