Alexander Nouri thanked his team for their effort after picking up a point against the still unbeaten Hoffenheim in the last game of the calendar year. Julian Nagelsmann also praised Werder’s head coach, as Nouri’s team head into the winter break on a five game unbeaten run.
WERDER.DE has all of the best reaction to yesterday’s draw in Sinsheim.
Alexander Nouri: “In the first half, I think we had a good grip on the game, but our counter attacks lacked a little precision. On the goal we conceded, we didn’t defend the second ball well. After the break we were braver going forwards and invested a lot as a team – we rewarded ourselves with this deserved point.”
Fin Bartels: “Hoffenheim are right up there in the table and made it hard for us in the first half, we had to run a lot. The more the game advanced, the more we increased the pressure and even had one or two chances to win with a bit of luck. Overall it was a good second half from us, I think we can head into the break on the back of a good performance we took something from the game.”
Zlatko Junuzovic: “Above all in the first half our final ball was missing, then their goal came from a mistake – before we had allowed them few chances. In the second half we tried to put more pressure on them going forwards and that meant TSG made some chances on the counter. Even though TSG were unbeaten, we wanted to take something from the game and did that.”
Frank Baumann: “We knew it would be very hard. We were okay in the first half and allowed them little, their goal came from a set-piece at which we switched off too early. But we didn’t give up and switched things up to be more attacking and go for the equaliser. Of course we had to be very careful of their counters and we also had a bit of luck there but we got it right overall. We fought, got ourselves back into the game and threw ourselves into the challenges.”
Max Kruse: “In the first half we had a plan but it’s not always as easy to enforce it on the pitch as it seems beforehand. Hoffenheim aren’t just any opposition, at the start we had a few problems stopping them. Then we changed things in the second half and the other system worked better, we had many good opportunities going forwards so a draw is the right result.”
Frank Baumann: “Every point matters so we can be satisfied today. Hoffenheim are having an absolutely top season and are still unbeaten. We were always in the game and were able to stay together as a team. Considering the whole 90 minutes, the point was deserved.”
Max Kruse: “We had a three on two in out penultimate situation, we couldn’t have done better there and won it. However, the point is certainly a good end to the first half of the season.”
Zlatko Junuzovic: “You saw that Hoffenheim were confident. We kept trying to combine like the coach wanted, but I think we demonstrated a lot of passion today. In a few of their counter attacks we had a little luck but the point is deserved, we just gave it everything again.”
Fin Bartels: “Of course you’d like to continue playing when you have such a good run going like we do now, but I think it'll do us good to get some rest to then be able to start the second half of the season at full steam.”
Robert Bauer: “I think you saw that we went to our limits in one or two stages of the match. Today it was just our desire that got us over the line and with the thought in the back of our minds that we’ll now have a short break.”
Max Kruse: “Of course we’re happy that we now haven’t lost in five games, we need every point. It’s not the case however that we reach the 30 point mark and relax. Now we’ll recharge our batteries for ten days and then on the 2nd of January we’ll turn our full concentration to the second half of the season.”
Frank Baumann: “For the players it’s now time to catch their breath. It was physically and mentally an exhausting first half of the season. In January we’ll prepare the final 18 games of the season with our full concentration, we have a tough start ahead of us.”
