…the international break: "We spoke to all of our players last week. It doesn’t just affect Jiri Pavlenka, but also Josh Sargent, Marco Friedl and Romano Schmid – we can’t let them travel to regions with virus mutations. We’ve told the players and they fully understand. We cannot afford the 14-day quarantine, and the players don’t want that either. We’ll try to make the best of it and we’ve made the players aware of the situation as well. The lads weren’t with their teams during the last international spell either so we do have understanding for their situation. Everyone is looking forward to playing for their country again now."
…Squad composition: "The important thing is to find a balance. You need experience but you also need young players in the team. It’s no different when it comes to personality: You need some players who want to take responsibility and talk a lot, but you also need players who play a calm role. It’s the overall picture is what matters – both in terms of skill and character."
…Kapino: "Obviously we’re keeping an eye on him. In the first instance, it was important for ‘Kapi’ to take on the role. He wanted to take the step and he’s been playing really well for Sandhausen since the start; he’s brought stability. We saw him briefly before our game in Hoffenheim. He’s doing well, he’s happy. Nothing has been decided yet though vis-à-vis summer.
…the Bayern game: "We played really well up until the first goal last weekend. We were compact, played our way out of high-pressure situations and found spaces going forward. Then we conceded from a set-piece, which shouldn’t happen. After that it felt like something wasn’t working for us – everything became more difficult. And it has to be said, Bayern were outstanding. If they have a good day, you could have a very good day and it still wouldn’t be enough. Going forward we saw some good stuff, especially in the first half."
…Wolfsburg: "It will obviously be a completely different game against Wolfsburg. They’re having an outstanding season – they play with great stability. They’re compact but also have an unbelievable goal threat. We need to prepare well for that.
…the principles behind loaning players: "It is a big step to go from the U19s or U23s straight into the first team. There are players who manage it and there are players who can benefit from an in-between step. We always try and find the best possible solution for each player. It is important to assess each situation independently and I believe we will continue to work in this way in future."
