“It is extremely annoying”

Maxi Mittelstädt, Per Skjelbred, Davie Selke, Marvin Plattenhardt and Fabian Lustenberger all spoke to the media after the 2-1 defeat in Stuttgart.

After two victories in a row, Hertha Berlin lost 2-1 to Stuttgart on Saturday (15/12/18) after leading 1-0 at half-time. Maxi Mittelstädt, Per Skjelbred, Davie Selke, Marvin Plattenhardt and Fabian Lustenberger all spoke to the media after the game.

Maximilian Mittelstädt: The defeat is extremely annoying. We played well, dominated, had chances early on and deserved to take the lead. In the second half, we sat back too much and did not create anything going forward. It’s just extremely annoying that we did not take advantage of our 1-0 lead and score again and to also lose from a winning position.

Per Skjelbred: We had full control in the first half. In the second half, they changed their formation and played with two strikers and went for more long balls. That got them into the game and that’s how they scored. The game changed after their equaliser, their fans too. After the second goal, it was difficult to come back.

Davie Selke: We played well in the first half, which isn’t guaranteed in Stuttgart. In the second half, it changed and we shouldn’t have let it happen. VfB equalised and took the lead shortly afterwards. After that, we knew it would be very, very hard to get back into it. In the end you have to admit to yourself that, in the second half, we lost the game. That is very, very annoying. We once again had the chance to win against a team lower down the table but we did not manage it.

Marvin Plattenhardt: Of course, it is disappointing that we lost the game. The first half, we were very organised. In the second half, Stuttgart became more dangerous and scored two goals from crosses. They didn’t really have that many chances but Mario Gomez scored the two that he had and so we lost 2-1. We have to accept it. We have another chance to get three points on Tuesday.

Fabian Lustenberger: This defeat is certainly one of the more unnecessary ones that I have experienced in my long time at Hertha. We had few chances after the break and conceded two goals from crosses and in those moments we did not defend well and were penalised. It not even that Stuttgart were very good. They only had three chances and scored two of them. It’s a defeat that hurts.