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The two late goals gave the game a more realistic scoreline…
It would have been harsh to win 1-0 today when you risk losing one on the counter attack. So it’s important to score this second goal and the third goal to kill the belief of the opponent. We tried from the beginning to do that, like we always do, but you need a little bit of luck in these situations. We hit the crossbar, we hit the post, a few good saves also, a few blocks on the line, but the most important thing is to keep on creating these chances and to play the football that we want to play.
How are Robin and Danilo?
I cannot say anything about that. I hear that people are worried about Dani, about his old injury. It’s nothing to do with that, not even around that, but we will see in the next couple of days. I cannot say anything about it. Maybe it’s something that’s not too bad, maybe it’s for a longer term. We will see in the next couple of days.
The big celebrations from yourself and the coaching staff for the second and third goal seem to really mean a lot to you?
Because you know in football you can dominate games and one chance or one ball drops bad and you can lose points. We had already too many moments this season and for sure in away games that we were dominant, that we were creating the chances and there was one ball in our box and we got the goal again. So of course it’s important to score the second and third. Also happy for, for example, Cyril coming in and scoring a goal like that. So it shows also the mentality of the squad that everybody’s fighting and working hard together to be ready to get the results that we want.
Does it show a bit of evolution from the team?
-As you say, there were previous games of the season where it was 1-0 and it may have gone 1-1 or you may have just hung on, but to go and score those two extra goals. Yeah, but we had also several games like that, that we scored more goals and that we were dominant. But you see more and more that the team gets used to each other and the right running lines at the right moments. It takes time in that way. See our offensive four from today, they were not there last season. Danilo a few games, I think I had him three or four games or something, and then he was out. So beginning of the season, a lot of them were also not there. And then afterwards, when that part became better and better, then we lost a lot of defenders and we had to shift also a lot of things. So also a lot of praise towards Ridvan playing on that side against these clubs. How he’s performing, same way for Clinton Nsiala coming in with no experience at this level. And also praise to all the staff working with all these young guys to get them really fast in the story and to learn things really fast, because there’s no room for error here. For sure, you guys don’t give anything in that way. So my players know, so that’s the way to go. They need to become better and they’re hungry to become better. Now we need to confirm these things in the away games. That’s for me the very important point for the next weeks and months.
How much of a boost is it to have James and Leon back from injury?
Yeah, it’s a crucial one and you saw also they came in with the right energy, the right focus. It’s crucial because we have so many games, we need a good rotation in the squad to have the ambition to win every time. And we were in our defensive line now really at the edge.
What is the situation with Oscar Cortes and Rabbi Matondo?
No, I cannot give any update about loans or not, or players going or not, until something is concrete and it’s not the case for the moment. I can say about Rabbi that I made a choice, a sportive choice today to put two young lads because I think they are performing for the moment better. And normally Oscar was also on the bench today, but he had a small problem yesterday evening, so in the training nothing. So we need to assess what that gives for the next couple of days.
What did you think of the atmosphere today?
Yeah, that’s what I talked about a few days ago. It’s about us on the pitch, showing the writings and then the fans go behind and I saw a lot of people who were happy after the game going home with a really good feeling because the team did what our ambition is, to do it much more. That’s our ambition and that’s why we’re working hard with them, all of them, to get it much more than we had already this season. But everybody sees and we had several really good moments also. That way, this team is growing and getting better. We need to get that now also in these away games, that’s crucial.
