Leon Goretzka: "We weren't clinical enough"

Domenico Tedesco:

Before the match we told ourselves we wanted to do better than against Hamburger SV. In that game we really didn’t start well and were almost eaten alive. Here we came into the match much better. We flew out the box, scored the early goal and, in my opinion, should have had a penalty. I can’t understand how that foul on Breel Embolo wasn’t given. However, we didn’t let it get to us and we continued to put the pressure on. Then the second goal came.

After that we let far too many chances slip. We need to work on that. If we had taken those chances more seriously, we would have gone in either 3-1 or 4-1 up at the break.

Leon Goretzka

It was a great first half from us. Unfortunately we weren’t clinical enough. That’s why, in the end, the point feels like a defeat. It’s definitely frustrating to not win because of a long-range strike like that. As far as the hunt for a Champions League place is concerned, things aren’t looking too bad. We have a seven point lead and we’re determined to reach our goal.

Ralph Fährmann

It felt like the free kick changed directions three or four times. On top of that, I saw it very late as one of our players ran forward to block it. It’s obviously frustrating to concede a goal like that from so far out. The keeper ends up looking a bit silly. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to parry the shot away. We need to be putting them out of reach in the first half though. Köln through everything they had and deserved to get a point after that second half.

Franco Di Santo

I’m sad and disappointed because we have to be winning that match. After going two up, it’s always frustrating to only walk away with a point. Three points would have been deserved. We will work on that and give everything in the coming  week to get all three next weekend. We aren’t losing sight of our goal – to qualify for the Champions League.