Mbabu: “We deserved the win as a team”

FC Augsburg had to overcome difficult periods during their 2-1 win against 1. FSV Mainz 05, coming back from 1-0 down and then holding firm having gone a man down in the second half. Here is all the reaction to the game.

Ermedin Demirović: “We have suffered a lot in the last few weeks, but have continued to work hard on ourselves and always kept going. Now, we are unbelievably happy with the three points and really they are three well-earned points. It was a win built on hard work and the fact that we also managed to hold on with ten men gives us an additional boost. Mainz played well at the start of the game; we still hadn’t really got into the game. The second goal being disallowed was then a wake-up call for us. Personally, I am obviously very pleased about the two goals, last week I missed a big chance at the end of the game. It’s a step in the right direction that can spur us in the coming weeks.”

Jeffrey Gouweleeuw: “You saw today that in a game like this it is all about attitude. We knew that it could turn into a scrappy game because it was so important for both teams. The game was there for the taking and even after the red card you could feel that we were standing together as team. It was very competitive, but today I’m just happy about getting the win. It’s a good step in the right direction.”

Kevin Mbabu: “We were aware of the situation we were in before the game, which makes it even more of a relief after the game. It was even more special for me personally because it was the first time the I have been able to play in front of this fantastic crowd. We fought together today, gave everything and we deserved the win as a team. We have to stick together like this in the next game as well.”

Finn Dahmen: “It was a special situation for me before the game seeing so many familiar faces among your opponents. That didn’t play any role during the game though, and I am just happy to get the three points. It was finally time for us to get a win like this. Well done to the whole team, especially with how they gave absolutely everything after the red card. We only conceded a few chances over the whole 90 minutes, which was key to the win.”

Enrico Maaßen (FC Augsburg head coach): “I am very happy to get the win because there is nothing quite like getting a win. We didn’t start the game well, Mainz were really good and we had that little bit of luck that what looked like the goal to make it 2-0 was offside. Congratulations to my team, we showed a top mentality today and scored two goals stemming from our desire. We played some proper football today – we did what you have to in a situation like this. After the red card, we defended really well and made the pitch narrow. I am happy that we won, but also not 100% satisfied because in certain situations during the game we have to be clever.”

Bo Svensson (1. FSV Mainz 05 head coach): “Congratulations to Augsburg on the win. We started the game well, deservedly took the lead and had control of the game. We were close to making it 2-0, but then what happened after is something which has already happened a lot this season: Our opponents had to do very little to score a goal against us. The defending for the equaliser wasn’t good, after that we were slightly unsettled and then conceded from a long throw to make it 2-1. We didn’t create enough in the second half after the red card and all in all were too rash. At the end of the day, it is very, very disappointing to lose here today.”