Kovac: “Compliments to the boys nonetheless” | OneFootball

Niko Kovac: “It was nerve-wracking. I have to pay the team a compliment for playing so well in front of such passionate fans and performing so well in the first half. We didn't create much going forward, but we controlled the game. Before the second half, we said: We need to get into the final third more and take shots at goal. The guys did a great job of that. The last four minutes weren't good. That's what hurts so much. But compliments to the boys nonetheless.”

Gregor Kobel: “We're disappointed. We had to win the game. We can't concede two goals in stoppage time. We can't allow ourselves to end up with a draw after playing such a great game. In the first half, we had a lot of possession but didn't create any clear chances in front of goal. At half-time, we said we needed to play more attacking football and that we wanted to score goals. We did that. But of course, I'm annoyed that we conceded four goals – two of them in stoppage time. The result, getting one point, is okay, but we had the chance to get three. We needed to see the game over the line in a cooler and more composed manner. You just have to defend. You have the ball, you kick it forward, you run down the clock – and that's it. We just have to play more mature football.”

Felix Nmecha: “We worked so hard – it then feels bitter to concede the two goals at the end. That feeling is frustrating. We showed, like we did last year, that we can compete with the top teams. We did that very well. Karim teed the ball up well for me and I love that position.”

Karim Adeyemi: “We got off to a good start, did what we set out to do, scored the first goal and then quickly conceded one. But at the end, we were in front and needed to see it through – and then we'd all be happy. It just wasn't meant to be. We're very disappointed. We'll do better in the next game.”

Mats Hummels (TV pundit for Prime): “We were thrilled that BVB would get off to such a good start, that they would play a perfect opening game despite their difficult schedule. And now, of course, one point feels very different. I think for everyone who supports BVB and German teams, this feels like a defeat that nobody saw coming.”Transcribed by Boris Rupert