Klaus Allofs said it all. "If we play like we did against Hertha, then we will not achieve our goals this year. If we play like we did today, then we will do it. That was a must win if we want to reach the international spots. But now we have to play consistently like that," said the Werder manager.

Tim Wiese agreed, saying: "That was very important today, but now we must continue to win. We all had hoped it would keep going after the North Derby win over Hamburg. But nothing came. That's why this victory today means nothing. It was a good step, but nothing else. Everything else we have to work for this week. Now we will see how we play in Dortmund. We have nothing to lose and have to make something of it."

Claudio Pizarro was optimistic about the Green-Whites' situation. "I was not surprised today with the performance we came up with. I was more surprised with the showings in the last two defeats. Now we have shown some effectiveness again. That had been missing. Now we have to keep going," said the Werder striker.

"We did not start so well but we played much better in the second half," said Werder head coach Thomas Schaaf. "We were much better in our actions going towards the goal. It was good that the team did not let up after the average start and always tried to get into the game."