Kovac: “We’ll make up for it!” | OneFootball

Niko Kovac on the loss in Düsseldorf: “You could already see today that we really stepped it up a notch in our second week of training. Our legs were heavy. The first half was okay. In the second half, our resistance wasn’t quite what I had in mind. But we don’t want to read too much into it. Everyone gave it their all, but in the end, it wasn’t enough.”

...the unique squad situation during preseason: “Every team that had a lot of national team players at the World Cup is facing the same problem. So with our ten national team players, we’ve already had quite a few who aren’t here. But we’ll make up for it! We’ll get it done! The lads who joined us yesterday are in good physical shape.”

...on Mathis Albert: “You can see what skills he has. He’s very fast and a strong dribbler. I have to say, he really gave it his all today. He scored the goal in his own style, with plenty of technique and speed. You can definitely see that we have some very talented lads, and we want to try to integrate one or two of them into the team. And he’s certainly one of them.”

Patrick Drewes on his appearance against Fortuna Düsseldorf:“I don’t get to do this very often. Last year I only played one half in Siegen; now I’ve already played two halves. It’s fun and a great honor. Getting that feeling of getting back in and playing is also important to me. It’s frustrating that it turned out to be just one half like that.”

… on the first two weeks of preseason:“Everyone needs a little time, in their own way, to get used to what’s expected here. That goes for the players from the U19 team just as much as it does for the new signings. It was a mixed bunch during the first two weeks; now the national team players are gradually returning.”

… on the trip to Japan:

“I’m looking forward to it, even though I don’t know what to expect. I haven’t packed my bags yet—I’ll have to do that tonight.”