FIRST TEAM
11/07/2024

Stach: "You play football for moments like that"

Here's what the players and coaches had to say after TSG Hoffenheim's 2-2 draw with Olympique Lyon.

Florian Grillitsch: "We earned ourselves the point and defended passionately. We actually performed very well but then lost our way a little at times in the second half, in part due to the substitutions by Lyon, who of course brought on extreme quality, but in the end we deserved the equaliser. We need to show exactly this side of ourselves in the Bundesliga, especially defensively, in our work off the ball. Then we'll come away from the game in Augsburg as victors."

Anton Stach: "It was certainly a deserved point. You play football for moments exactly like that. Even though it was not three points, there is always a sense of achievement to score a late equaliser like that. We can carry that forward into the coming days. Yes, we have stabilised overall in the course of recent weeks, but there has always been something small missing. Now the most important thing is that we somehow win the game in Augsburg."

Oliver Baumann: "We were very, very good in the first half, completely deserved to take the lead and could've led 2-0. Lyon then of course brought on incredible quality, we needed some time but we showed great spirit at the end. Fortunately, Umut executed a really impressive strike. I am of course delighted about the late equaliser but overall I have mixed feelings. When I assess the game as a whole, the point is almost too little. The squad is intact, that's encouraging and should give us confidence. The clear goal now is to win in Augsburg. We can't be satisfied with our points haul in the Bundesliga. We definitely have things we need to do better. But I'm confident as the squad is on the right track."

Valentin Gendrey: "When a game takes that course, you're happy about the point. When you concede a goal so late, you're naturally very happy to then score the equaliser. Personally, it is of course a very nice feeling to score my first goal at home. I have been very well integrated here by the team."

Pellegrino Matarazzo: "We're satisfied with our performance and the point. We made a good start to the game, the first half was ours. We made a super start to the second half, scored to make it 1-0 and had the chance for 2-0. The quadruple substitution by Lyon posed us problems in a period in which we were no longer so fresh and had to stabilise ourselves. It was in this phase that Lyon deservedly scored the equaliser. It speaks volumes about the team that we managed not to give up after going 2-1 down and kept believing. The equaliser showed the team's character. I was very happy for the team and also for Umut. The Europa League is good for us. It's what we worked for last season. We're gaining experience and competing against top teams. The performances give us the belief that we can also perform better in the Bundesliga again."

Pierre Sage (Olympique Lyon head coach): "We improved after the first conceded goal and almost got the victory. It is frustrating that we conceded the equaliser after scoring such a late goal ourselves. Ultimately, it feels hard to go from such a positive moment to what feels like a defeat. We slightly changed the starting line-up in order to be ready for the derby against Saint-Etienne at the weekend. It was the best solution to give some other players game time today. The players who came on as substitutes are of course well-versed, which made it easier for the team to work together. If you look at the entire game, the draw is a logical result."

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