Michael Langer: We need to stick together

“Over the course of the week, I was definitely feeling some anticipation. I wasn’t nervous at all. It was simply a great honour for me to be able to play a competitive game for FC Schalke 04. But, it’s not about me, it’s about the team,” the Austrian said. Prior to the game, Langer had already taken on an important role within the team, both on and off the pitch.

Frustration after conceding from set pieces

Following the game, Langer gave an insight into the current mood within the team: “You could see that our team was fighting hard, and that we aren’t giving up,” he said. “That’s why it’s tough to once again not be rewarded. The winless run is wearing on us. But, we will pick ourselves up again and begin preparations on Monday for the game in Augsburg. We will continue to fight. If we don’t, then there’s no use in us even showing up for training tomorrow.”

Langer conceded three goals against Leverkusen last time out, but the goalkeeper is most frustrated by the fact that two of these goals came from set pieces. “We should have defended better as a team,” he said. Langer was briefly hopeful that the referee would overturn Leverkusen’s opening goal. “I think that Malick was pushed. It makes it tough when a defender is trying to head it clear in front of goal. A tiny shove in the back is all you need,” he explained. But, Langer added “The referee didn’t call it. As such, we don’t need to discuss it anymore. After all, it doesn’t change anything for us now.” 

After going behind early on, the team tried to give it that extra effort, said Langer. “We knew that Leverkusen are a talented side. But, there were still several things that we did well. If we had gotten one back from the spot, then we might have been able to turn it around. We need to continue to think positively and work on our weaknesses. It’s a difficult time for us, but we need to stick together.”