Following the 2-2 draw at FC Schalke 04, we spoke to midfielder Christoph Kramer about conceding a late equaliser, the atmosphere inside the Veltins-Arena and how the Foals managed to remain calm even after going behind.
Chris, even now that it’s a day later, how disappointing was it to concede a last-minute equaliser against Schalke?
Kramer: Very, because I think we would have deserved to start the season with six points. That would have been perfect, but unfortunately, we weren’t able to. Instead, we have four points at the moment, which we’re definitely happy with. But, based on how the game went and the fact that we conceded a late equaliser, it’s definitely frustrating.
Nevertheless, were you still able to celebrate your strong performance yesterday?
Kramer: The two aren’t necessarily related. We knew after the full-time whistle yesterday that we’d played well. However, we were still frustrated because we know that we dropped points.
What was the atmosphere like in the stadium on what was Schalke’s first home game back in the Bundesliga?
Kramer: I’m glad to see the club back in the Bundesliga. Even the tifo when we walked out onto the pitch was very impressive. That was pure Schalke. Their fans were very loud and served for a lot of energy. We tried to silence them and cut their momentum, which we managed quite well at the start. After they scored, the fans really carried the team and gave them the energy needed to overcome any tough situations.
What impact did conceding have on the team?
Kramer: We weren’t really that affected by going behind, but the goal really helped to motivate Schalke. When you have the lead, it just gives you the ability to play with more power, compared to when you’ve fallen behind. You could see that. However, we knew that they had used a lot of energy in the first half and that they wouldn’t be able to deliver on the same level after the break.
How did you manage to remain calm even after conceding an early goal?
Kramer: We knew that crosses wouldn’t be enough to get us over the line, so we had no other alternative other than to remain calm and continue playing the way we had been. From the 60th minute onwards, we were able to find space for ourselves and were able to see our hard work rewarded. We weren’t clinical enough on every attack, but as soon as we managed to turn the game around, then I was certain that we would manage to win.
Marcus Thuram set up Jonas Hofmann with a back-heel assist on Borussia’s first goal. What view did you have of the goal?
Kramer: It was a great assist. I was a bit further back and was able to watch it all happen. The execution from Tikus was the most difficult part of that goal. Both touches happened within a matter of seconds, so they did an incredible job together.
That led to a very emotional celebration from not only the team, but you as well…
Kramer: Yesterday was just one of those games where you knew that it would be really frustrating to not be rewarded for your efforts. That’s why Hoffi’s goal was so important and being right in front of the home end with our fans made it the perfect moment to really celebrate.
You then added a second shortly after. Right now, you get the impression that you guys are capable of posing a threat when needed at any time…
Kramer: That’s definitely true, and it also ties in to how we want to play. Having a lot of the ball really wears out your opponents. At some point, they won’t be able to keep up anymore, which automatically creates gaps that we want to exploit.
It seemed as though Borussia were on course for a certain victory, but Patrick Herrmann’s unfortunate handball in the dying minutes saw Schalke awarded a penalty. What was your view of that situation?
Kramer: Stuff like that is bound to happen in football. Flaco had only been on the pitch for a short time, and it’s not easy to find your way into the game at that point, especially when it’s such a close game. When you haven’t even touched the ball yet, then moments like that can always happen. None of us blame him for it.
