“A scrappy win” | OneFootball

Board member for sport Markus Krösche, head coach Dino Toppmöller and goalscorer Niels Nkounkou reflect on the hard-fought win against Heidenheim.

Board member for sport Markus Krösche: “After the negative run we’ve been on, it was important to win against Heidenheim and see the result over the line. We didn’t do enough in the first half and created virtually no opportunities. We needed to score the third goal in the second half, then that gives you a bit more calm. It wasn’t a top performance on our part but it’s an important lift for the boys. Nevertheless, we need to play better against Hoffenheim.”

Head coach Dino Toppmöller: “You could tell that we’ve been through a rather difficult period. It wasn’t a good game in the first half. We were lucky to take the lead thanks to a bobble in the pitch. Then we came out well after the break and after going 2-0 up, we hoped we’d be able to settle the game down a bit, which we didn’t manage to do. It was about getting the three points, no matter how. It was no more than a scrappy win, but sometimes you need them to get the monkey off your back.”

Niels Nkounkou: “I’m very happy about the goal but even happier that we stuck together well as a team today. We pulled in the same direction, were solid at the back and came away with the three points. In the past we would’ve conceded an equaliser in games like that – not this time, which makes me happy. We wanted to be awake from the first minute and embrace the battle. We have to be at it for 90 minutes, which we’re working on. For the goal I got my marker where I wanted him, went past him on the left and took aim. The three points were very important, we’re taking it one game at a time and then we’ll see where we end up.”