Akpoguma: "We need to develop a hunger for it"

Akpo, last weekend you finally got another win in Kiel. Was the victory a redemption for you?

"I play football because I want to win, and when you don't win for so long, it really gets you down. In the changing room after the game, you could feel that a weight had been lifted. After a win, everything is just nicer - for example, in Kiel David Mokwa also made his debut, which we could then celebrate in a completely different way. A win always energises you, that's been noticeable in the past few days too. But we can't ease off now, we need to keep it up. It's important that we all develop a hunger for it, so that we have this feeling much more often."

You've already had a lot of highlights during your time at TSG. What does the game on Thursday against Tottenham mean to you?

"The greatest memory that we have is the game against Manchester City a few years ago in the Champions League, that was our greatest highlight on the European stage. But now a team which belongs to the absolute European elite is coming to Sinsheim to play us. You can definitely put that in the same category. We're really looking forward to the game. There's a lot at stake, we need to do everything we can to shape the game successfully. And regardless of what the table looks like, we can show that we are a good team. The win in Kiel brought a positive energy into the team. Now we want to use that. I'm really looking forward to the game and see it as a great challenge. But it isn't just a bonus game for us - it's a very important game which we have big plans for."

Tom Bischof has announced that he will be transferring to FC Bayern Munich in the summer. What effect has that had on you as a team?

"It hasn't had any effect on the team. We're all proud and happy to have a player in our ranks who in summer will have the chance to play for the greatest club in German football history. Tom is the kind of guy who'll give everything for us until the very last minute, we know that. So let's be proud of him, let him perform, and then at the end of the season, wish him all the best for what he's going on to do."

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