“We gave the goals away” | OneFootball

Head coach Dino Toppmöller, Robin Koch and Ansgar Knauff react to the defeat against Atalanta Bergamasca Calcio.

Head coach Dino Toppmöller: “We had a decent first half and created chances for Farès and Mario. We have to take one of those if we want to win matches at this level. The game turned when Atalanta hit the post twice in quick succession – they grew stronger after that. Even so, at half-time we still felt we could win. Their second goal was too much for us and we couldn’t find the right response after that. In the second half we lacked that final spark, that final bit of power. Losing possession the way we did before their first goal gets punished at this level.”

Robin Koch: “We ruined the game for ourselves in the space of five minutes. The first half was OK. We had a few chances to take the lead, and Atalanta had one or two as well. At half-time we felt we could win it but then we let the game slip away like that within a few minutes. We basically completely lost our shape on the same side twice and, to be honest, we gave the goals away. Overall, after the break we weren’t able to put more pressure on the ball again. We were very poor in the second half.”

Ansgar Knauff: “Up until the opening goal it was an even game with few chances. We had one or two opportunities, Atalanta had one or two as well. Then we concede three goals within five minutes, where we really don’t look good – we’re too open and give the opposition chances that are far too easy. We definitely have to analyse that. It’s frustrating to have just thrown the game away in that period. It’s annoying because we hadn’t played a bad match up until the first goal.”