Maier: “Winning three straight games is a great feeling”

Post-match reaction to 1-0 home win against Heidenheim

FC Augsburg celebrated their third straight win at home against 1. FC Heidenheim on matchday 25. Read on for all the post-match reaction.

Ermedin Demirović: “Today’s game was very physical and a little bit ugly, which is why we’re extremely happy to have gotten our next three points. We’re enjoying ourselves at the minute and we’re on a good path. Every week, it’s clear to see that we’re playing as a team – everyone fights for each other and we’re able to defend well right until the end, like we did today. We’re a really strong team and we’re capable of beating any side we come up again, especially with the support of our fans. We need to take this euphoria with us, but also remain grounded and focused on the task at hand.”

Arne Maier: “Winning three straight games is a great feeling, and it’s reflected in the dressing room right now. We knew that Heidenheim would be a tough opponent and were prepared to contest lots of challenges and defend lots of long balls, but we did well to withstand the pressure and managed to come out on top of a tough game thanks to a set-piece goal. The three points are staying in Augsburg, which is the most important thing – I’m extremely happy for the entire team. Next, we come up against Wolfsburg, which is what we’re fully focused on now. We want to keep picking up points.”

Jeffrey Gouweleeuw: “It’s an incredible feeling because it’s a rare thing for us to win three straight games. I think that it wasn’t an amazing game, based on the quality of the football on show, as we didn’t have many chances and neither did Heidenheim. We gave up a little bit of our control over the game in the second half, but are still able to draw a lot of confidence from this win, while keeping our feet firmly planted in reality. I’m very happy that I was able to score the winning goal today, but at the same time, I’m also extremely happy for Finn and the rest of the team that we managed to keep back-to-back clean sheets.”

Jess Thorup (FC Augsburg head coach): “Today was our third win in a row, which is proof of the development that the team has undergone in the last weeks and months. From my point of view, we were in control for the entire first half and were able to take the lead despite not creating many chances. The game was very physical and it came down to who won the second balls, while we also defended well and deservedly won in the end. Playing at home in front of our fans and a sell-out crowd is always a great feeling.”

Frank Schmidt (1. FC Heidenheim head coach): “Congratulations to Jess and his team. Overall, it wasn’t the best Bundesliga game today, but as expected, it was very physical. We shouldn’t have allowed Augsburg to take the lead from a set piece – we weren’t alert enough and it’s tough to then come back against a team brimming with confidence. Both sides defended well in the middle of the park, but we lacked precision and power in our attack today. Of course we’re frustrated about the defeat, because it was a close game, but we will put it behind us and now have another opportunity to do better at home next week.”