Leonardo Bittencourt interview

WERDER.DE: It’s been three days since the last minute win against Dortmund. How are you feeling?

Leonardo Bittencourt: “It still feels as if it didn’t happen somehow. But nice. When you win any game, it’s always a good feeling. Yea, it feels nice. I still can’t quite believe it.”

WERDER.DE: After the goal went in to make it 3-2, you ran over to the Werder fans rather than to the goalscorer Burke. Why was that?

Leonardo Bittencourt: “Over on Burke’s side there were only Dortmund fans but down the other end, there were the Green-Whites and our salmon-pink colours. What am I supposed to do down Burke’s end? It doesn’t make any sense to run all over the place. I preferred to run over to our fans with Duckschi.”

WERDER.DE: How did you find it playing in Dortmund again?

Leonardo Bittencourt: “It’s always nice playing in Dortmund, especially in front of a sold-out crowd. In the last few years, we’ve played there without any fans and it was much drearier. When you see the crowds of people from both sides coming towards each other there, and we had loads of fans there, who created a great atmosphere; then it is truly a football game like it’s meant to be. Now a few days have passed and we’re turning our attention to the game against Frankfurt.”

WERDER.DE: Five points from three games – how important is it to take that momentum with you into the home game against Frankfurt?

Leonardo Bittencourt: “It is very important. We have to do it week in and week out. We want to pick up points on a week by week basis and, best of all, to win. Therefore, we need to take this momentum with us as best as possible because it’s always easier to play football when you’ve won the week before rather than lost. But the pressure is still the same. It’s about getting three points again at the weekend. We want to win the game.”

WERDER.DE: The clash on Saturday is being labelled as “a promoted side” against the Europa League winners. How difficult do you think the game against Frankfurt will be?

Leonardo Bittencourt: “Really difficult. It will be a really tough match for us. Frankfurt are a side with enormous quality. Last year, they didn’t just simply win the Europa League, they earned it. That’s why it’s going to be hard work against them.”