“Speaks volumes about the lads’ character” | OneFootball

Head coach Dino Toppmöller, Kevin Trapp and Robin Koch were delighted with the last-gasp draw at Mainz, highlighting the team’s attitude, spirit and the support of the fans.

Head coach Dino Toppmöller: “We’re obviously pleased to have got the equaliser in added time. It was a very tough game. The opener came from an individual mistake and the half-time deficit was deserved, to some degree. The team showed great character in the second half and we had some great chances. The second yellow card was a harsh decision, but you’ve seen them given. Our goal was very well played and just reward in the end. “The game was on a knife edge and there was never much in it. It’s completely normal to be emotional – that’s part of football and as a coach, you have to set an example. Considering we only arrived back from Sofia on Friday, we fought very well in terms of intensity. We were running on empty at the end. It speaks volumes about the lads’ character that we didn’t concede after going a man down.”

Robin Koch: “We’re feeling good after the game because we got the equaliser with ten men. It was very important that we didn’t give up. To have the fans behind us was also crucial. You have to take certain risks when you’re 1-0 down and only have ten men. We were outnumbered at times at the back and weren’t always able to stop Mainz’s transitions, but in the end we defended very well and were well organised.”

Kevin Trapp: “We fell behind, but after Ansgar Knauff’s red card we showed what we’re all about and that there’s a lot of character in the team. We kept believing in ourselves until the end and were ultimately rewarded for our efforts.”