Reactions to #TSGSCF: "We deserved to win"

Julian Nagelsmann: "We made a very good start but the injury to Ermin Bicakcic caused a slight disruption to our game. We then conceded a slapstick goal, similar to the one we later scored to make it 1-1. And then Kasim Adams had to come off, as did Kevin Akpoguma during half-time. It's extraordinary to lose three central defenders like that. Adams and Akpoguma have been taken to hospital. During the interval we made a brave offensive switch and exerted pressure well. Towards the end we had to switch to a 4-4-1-1 formation because Freiburg were pushing for the equaliser. But we got over the line when we made it 3-1."

Leonardo Bittencourt: "I don't know whether my goal was really offside. It must've been by the width of a shoe − and I have small feet. If that was the case, then it was completely fair to disallow it. It's bitter that we lost three defenders. For our third goal, I blindly smashed the ball forward. The fact that Andrej reached the ball and then scored the goal was brilliant."

Nico Schulz: "We started well but then we lost the flow of our game for a while, which was annoying. In the second half, we continued in the same way in which we had started the first. We deserved to win. I do what I can do to help the team. I believe the crux of the matter is that I always give everything in each game." 

Adam Szalai: "It was an intense match. I was very annoyed with myself that I didn't manage to put away the first chance. We recognised that we needed to play with even more intensity in the second period. I think I took the goals well. I'm delighted that it worked out, but the goals are the product of the whole team. The team is Man of the Match."

Lars Voßler (SC Freiburg assistant coach): "We saw an intense game from both teams. We wanted to press Hoffenheim quickly and aggressively to stop them getting into their game. After taking the lead, we had a big chance to make it 2-0 which we didn't take. In the second half, we wanted to have more possession but conceded the silly goal to make it 1-1. When you make mistakes like that, you can't beat a team like Hoffenheim."

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