The images in the wake of Felix Wiedwald’s last minute penalty save in the BayArena were ones symbolic of character. The whole team ran to its keeper and celebrated the deserved point away from home. “That was pure elation, they were all grateful to me and were so pleased,” said Wiedwald on the final few moments of the game.
WERDER.DE has rounded up all the important quotes from the mixed zone after a successful trip to Leverkusen.
Fin Bartels: “We tried to hassle them as much as possible and we tried to control the game when we had the ball and stay calm. This performance was better than ones in recent weeks so it would have really hurt if we had lost. We could have won the game as well but we are satisfied with a point.”
Maximilian Eggestein: “Our system today allowed us to control the game for long periods. We had more of the play in the centre and that helped us create a lot of chance.”
Alexander Nouri: "We played really well. We knew what to expect and that a top performance would be needed. We fought and never stopped running. They are off to Madrid for the Champions League in midweek and we’re fighting relegation. We controlled the game in the second half and created a lot in and around their box. Thankfully we took something from the game because I thought the team deserved that.”
Felix Wiedwald: "We played really well today. We could have left here nothing but we were well worth the point in the end. We had our chances to win it but it just wasn’t to be for us today as far as getting the win was concerned.”
[] Felix Wiedwald: „“I felt I had a part to play in the build up to the penalty. Recently I have been guessing right with penalties but not holding on to them. Today I got lucky.”
Maximilian Eggestein: "I went straight to Felix to thank him and I asked where I should take him for dinner! But he did not say anything because he thought he had caused the penalty by taking the goal kick short. I saw Felix dive to the corner and I cannot begin to describe how relieved I was. Everything could have been so different and it would have been my fault.”
Fin Bartels: "That was a very strange ending, and we have to thank Wiedi because we deserved at least a point from the game. It’s amazing what he has been able to do in the last few weeks and he has been a very important backline for us."
Alexander Nouri: "Maxi will learn from that. But I will not make an example of him, he, like everyone else, put in a good performance. However it shows that you have to stay fully focused until the very end. At the same time, I am delighted for Wiedi that he was able to save the penalty."
Thomas Delaney: “The boss told me I would not be playing. I was sure yesterday that I was ready play, but starting was probably too much. That was a tough 30 minutes for me because I was only able to train briefly in the week so fitness was a problem. But it was still good to get out there, and the mask did not put me off. Once you start playing you forget you are even wearing it.”
