Teams | March 17, 2018 at 08:41 PM

"We had to win that game"

Salomon Kalou, Valentino Lazaro, Niklas Stark, Arne Maier, Maxi Mittelstädt and Marvin Plattenhardt give their thoughts following Saturday’s win in Hamburg.

Hertha left Hamburg with all three points on Saturday following a second half comeback. Here’s how the boys saw it, and what they said to the result after the final whistle.

Salomon Kalou: We had to win that game, even though they had to as well. They started so well and played well in the first half. We were better in the second half. After they scored we had chances to equalize. All I had to do for the goal was tuck home Arne Maier’s really good pass. I’m so pleased he got his first assist, that I got another goal and we got back to winning ways. We won’t always be able to win when we’re under pressure though. There is no way you can win like that every week. Sometimes you do need that little bit of luck, and we got that today.

Valentino Lazaro: We were not surprised by how they started. We didn’t begin well and we gave them far too much space to play their football and that is dangerous. We fell asleep for their goal, me included. We worked as a team in the second half, looked to get forward early and stressed them out. That meant we got more possession in the final third and we were able to do something with that and create chances. Thankfully we were able to take two of those chances.

Marvin Plattenhardt: We are very happy with the game and the result. We all knew at half time we had not done enough in the first half. We defended from the front more after the break and pressed them more – and that brought us the two goals. I am delighted to be nominated for the national team. I want to keep proving myself and offer my services.

Niklas Stark: If we had lost here then our situation would have started to become quite perilous. We are delighted to be able to take three points back with us. The first half was very intense and we noticed how much they were up for this. We started very poorly but looked good on the counter until that proved to be our own downfall for their goal. We were more aggressive in the second half and we created so much better chances – that’s what turned the game.

Arne Maier: We started very badly and gave the ball away far too much. The way we bounced back and responded in the second half was a credit to the team. We put the first half out of our minds and started again in the 46th minute. We did that so well and the 2-1 win was well deserved. I am pleased to get an assist, but it was more important that we won.

Maximilian Mittelstädt: That was an important win for us, and one we deserved as well. We had been lacking goals in the previous few games so we are delighed to break that duck and return to Berlin with three points.

Hertha left Hamburg with all three points on Saturday following a second half comeback. Here’s how the boys saw it, and what they said to the result after the final whistle.

Salomon Kalou: We had to win that game, even though they had to as well. They started so well and played well in the first half. We were better in the second half. After they scored we had chances to equalize. All I had to do for the goal was tuck home Arne Maier’s really good pass. I’m so pleased he got his first assist, that I got another goal and we got back to winning ways. We won’t always be able to win when we’re under pressure though. There is no way you can win like that every week. Sometimes you do need that little bit of luck, and we got that today.

Valentino Lazaro: We were not surprised by how they started. We didn’t begin well and we gave them far too much space to play their football and that is dangerous. We fell asleep for their goal, me included. We worked as a team in the second half, looked to get forward early and stressed them out. That meant we got more possession in the final third and we were able to do something with that and create chances. Thankfully we were able to take two of those chances.

Marvin Plattenhardt: We are very happy with the game and the result. We all knew at half time we had not done enough in the first half. We defended from the front more after the break and pressed them more – and that brought us the two goals. I am delighted to be nominated for the national team. I want to keep proving myself and offer my services.

Niklas Stark: If we had lost here then our situation would have started to become quite perilous. We are delighted to be able to take three points back with us. The first half was very intense and we noticed how much they were up for this. We started very poorly but looked good on the counter until that proved to be our own downfall for their goal. We were more aggressive in the second half and we created so much better chances – that’s what turned the game.

Arne Maier: We started very badly and gave the ball away far too much. The way we bounced back and responded in the second half was a credit to the team. We put the first half out of our minds and started again in the 46th minute. We did that so well and the 2-1 win was well deserved. I am pleased to get an assist, but it was more important that we won.

Maximilian Mittelstädt: That was an important win for us, and one we deserved as well. We had been lacking goals in the previous few games so we are delighed to break that duck and return to Berlin with three points.

by Hertha BSC