FC St. Pauli

Eric Smith on…

...the draw against Leverkusen: “We managed to come from behind for the third time in a row, so when you take a point against the German champions it’s always good. We’re definitely happy and are on the right track. It’s not over yet, though, and we need to get more points on the table. Hopefully we’ll be able to enjoy what we’ve created this season.”

...the comeback qualities of recent weeks: “Our performances have been better over 90 minutes. We’ve had to learn the hard way all season and that’s what’s built up to this. We’ve been able to come back because we’ve learned from our mistakes in the first half of the season when we played well but didn’t get the results.”

...captaining the team for the first time in the Bundesliga: “It’s an honour when the coach chooses you and I’m trying to pay him back the best I can. I’ve been captain before at this club, so I know how it feels and what it means, but I just tried to play my usual game.”

...Jackson Irvine’s comment that it’s the best Eric Smith he’s ever seen: “I hope not. I hope I’ll be able to perform better. I’m obviously very happy that he said that about me and I’ll just try to do my best every game.”

...his holding role: “I get more involved in the game and can perform better when I play in midfield, so it’s obviously a lot of fun at the moment. The role I had last year was different because we had the ball more, whereas this year at the beginning we didn’t have the ball that much. I’ve got more games under my belt now in that position and am starting to remember how to play in midfield.”

Eric Smith under challenge from Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz.

...the forthcoming trip to Bremen: “It’ll be tough. They’ve won four in a row now and have a chance to qualify for Europe, so they’ll try to win the game like we will. If we’re able to reach the level we had against Gladbach and Leverkusen, we have a chance of picking up points against Bremen as well.”

...the chance of staying up if Heidenheim fail to win at Stuttgart on Friday: “Whatever happens in that game, we need to win our game. It doesn’t matter whether other teams win or lose, we want to take all three points at Bremen.”

...the mood in the camp: “At the moment it’s very good because we’ve had some good results. We can’t afford to take a rest, though, because we need four more points from the last four games and we want to get them as quickly as possible. We’re in a good position, we know that, but we have to be careful not to get into the wrong energy. Everyone has to be focused on getting the points we need.”

...the run-in: “Now it matters the most. We have the experience from last year when we really had to push through into the last few games, and so a lot of the guys in the dressing room know what it takes. We’re trying to create the same mentality as we had in the last three games. I’m positive and I trust everyone at this club to know what we’re capable of and what level we need to reach to be able to get this done.”

Photos: FC St. Pauli/Witters