Stuttgart match reaction

Markus Gisdol: We didn't want to walk into a trap and we wanted to be compact in order to be able to create one or two counterattacking opportunities. We made it 1-0 at a good moment and the game was open for a long time. The team implemented the plan well and delivered a solid performance. That was the key to our success. It's better to win 2-0 than to have a spectacular 3-3 draw.

Armin Veh: We got into the game straightaway. The only thing we needed was a goal, even just a lucky one. Obviously, going 1-0 down wasn't good for us. We had a decent first half but we lacked that bit of luck. Everyone in the stadium saw that we fought hard, but one goal scored in four games isn't good enough.

Kevin Volland: We have a good squad and we had to deal with injuries. Today, everyone was aware of how we lost here last year. The scenario going into the game was very similar to that game so we were cautious. Therefore we were a lot more compact, more organised and more stable. Improving how we react when we win or lose the ball has to be the next step. If we improve that, then we can then start to pick up more points. But I think we've had a good start to the season.

Sebastian Rudy: We were in a similar situation last year, but this time we definitely handled it better. To keep a clean sheet was very important. We had a few injuries in the squad, but other players came in and all did a good job. Right back is still a new position for me. Overall, we used the situation well today and earned the win thanks to a tidy performance. Our focus now turns to the home game against Freiburg. We want to take the next step in this busy period.

Jannik Vestergaard: We sat very deep today as we wanted to be more compact. I think it worked well and looked quite good. Obviously, I enjoyed coming on and I tried to help the team. This win in Stuttgart is a good step in the right direction but obviously it's too early to start looking at the table.

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