Scally: "We didn’t defend well enough"

Joe Scally spoke in interview about the game against Union Berlin yesterday, the upcoming game against Stuttgart and this year’s World Cup.

Joe, the team lost yesterday after a last minute goal made it 2-1 to Union Berlin. How did you find the game?

Scally: It is a difficult defeat to accept. We defended well, especially in the first half, went into the lead thanks to Nico Elvedi’s goal and didn’t give up many chances as the game went on. Near the end, Union then put us under a lot more pressure and hit two dangerous crosses into our box, which we did not defend well enough.

Why was the team unable to get the best of these key moments?

Scally: To play against Union and be totally 100% focussed for the whole 90 minutes is not easy for any team in the Bundesliga. The Berlin fans spurred on their team the whole time and supported them regardless of if something went well or went wrong. This pushed the Union players on and with their current standing unfortunately they were quicker to react in the key moments and were able to get the win.

Did you speak about the frustrating defeat during the journey back?

Scally: Every player has their own method of dealing with a game. Some like talking about and analysing the game together, some like to reflect on the game alone. The coach analysed the game with the team this morning and we have learnt valuable lessons from the good first half but also from the final stages.

There is still a double gameweek before the winter break, beginning with Friday night against VfB Stuttgart…

Scally: It is an important game that we definitely want to win and get back on the right course. After the analysis this morning, our focus has turned straight to the match on Friday. We’ve got an evening game and our fantastic supporters behind us. The atmosphere at games under the floodlights at the BORUSSIA PARK is always something special. Ideally, we want to go into the winter break having picked up nine points from the three remaining games.

There are just a few weeks until the World Cup. Do you think you will be selected for the USA and if yes, how much are you looking forward to the tournament?

Scally: I have not received anything yet to say if I am in the World Cup squad or not. But, I am really hoping to be involved and if I am nominated I will be really pleased. It would finally be the culmination of the dream that every professional footballer has, to represent your country in the biggest and most important football tournament and play against the best players in the world.