Reactions: “We have to do better at keeping the ball” | OneFootball

Sebastian Kehl (in the mixed zone): “Additional time is part and parcel of football. And it’s also part and parcel of the game to defend until the last second and try to prevent crosses. HSV threw everything at us until the end and were then rewarded for their efforts. After going 1-0 up, we stopped playing possession football, became far too passive and allowed HSV back into the game. That was completely unnecessary because we had controlled the game very well, especially in the first half.”

Emre Can (in the mixed zone): “Personally, it was nice to be back on the pitch. I felt fit, but I would have preferred to get the win. It was very, very unfortunate and hard to swallow. We had to play much better football in the minutes leading up to that. We only had short periods of possession, we weren’t precise enough and we have to do better at keeping the ball. We're allowing too many crosses. Unfortunately, I couldn't get to the ball. It's unfortunate and hard to take because we had a decent game. And you have to remember: we’ve had a lot of games. The lads aren’t machines, they’re human beings who are tired. And yet we still had a good game in midfield, conceded little and deserved to be in the lead.”

Nico Schlotterbeck (on Sky): "We had everything under control until the opening goal, we didn't really let them have anything, but after scoring we lost control a bit. We have to learn to play more football, we didn't manage to do that at the end. If you send in 15 crosses, maybe one will go in. That's what happened at the end. In the end, we became too sloppy and let HSV take control. And that's what happens when you become too passive. The opening goal should have been a release for us. It's a flesh wound (referring to his injury, ed.). The doc stapled it up. I don't blame him (the opponent)."

Gregor Kobel (in the mixed zone): "We can't let them cross so often. Hamburg weren't particularly dangerous throughout the game – except when they crossed. When you've got two or three minutes left, you have to be more active, you have to disrupt them, you have to put them under pressure. Everyone has to take ownership in certain situations; you have to step up, even if it's not your job. Unfortunately, we didn't do that enough today."Transcribed by Boris Rupert