“We were awkward opponents” | OneFootball

Markus Krösche, Albert Riera, Mario Götze and Ayoube Amaimouni express their delight about the first win of 2026 and highlight the defending as the key to success.

Board member for sport Markus Krösche: “We’ve not had an easy time, so we’re glad to have won. The first half wasn’t easy, Gladbach played well but we were efficient. In the second half, we defended well and it was important to keep the clean sheet. Our defending in the box was very different, that’s been the biggest improvement under Albert Riera. He’s trying to introduce certain things, which you can see. It’s not all functioning yet, that’s clear. Albert has strengthened our defending in the box and defensive structure, and shown that he can bring in stability in a short space of time.”

Head coach  Albert Riera: “The three points are so important, but the clean sheet equally so. If you want to win games, you should first and foremost not concede any goals. We defended well, and that’s the confidence the players need. We felt strong and were awkward opponents. The team did a very good job.” 

Mario Götze: “It was a really important match for us, especially after the last few weeks. Three points, a 3-0 win at home in front of our own fans are a good, important step. To be fair, the game didn’t feel as one-sided as the final score. Gladbach also played well and we weren’t always in control. We have room for improvement on the ball.”

Ayoube Amaimouni-Echghouyab: “You notice what the coach is trying to impart. I think every player in the team knows exactly what he has to do with and without the ball. We’ve needed that. I always try to do a bit of extra work after training and do a few shots. I did that exact move in the final training session and I’m glad it came off.”