FC St. Pauli

Head coach Alexander Blessin: "You can say there was more in it for us today, but Leipzig deserved to win somehow. We started well and were solid at the back. We controlled the long balls forward and had some good turnovers and it was just the final ball that was lacking. We then came so close to taking the lead through an own goal but Péter Gulácsi did brilliantly to keep it out and Leipzig went straight up the field and scored, which was very annoying because it was avoidable. We were five against two just outside the area but went down too quickly. We shipped a second but then had an opportunity to get back in the game just before the break, only to hit the bar. We tried everything in the second half but came away empty-handed. There were lots of good aspects but also things we need to cut out."

Hauke Wahl: "It always hurts to lose. We played well and had some good chances, not just right before the opening goal but before that as well. We conceded too easily both times. Leipzig are a top team with the quality to take chances like that. We were no worse than them in the tackle or in footballing terms, but Leipzig got the goals, and we didn't, which was decisive today. What we take from the game is that we held our own a third time against Champions League team and are capable of creating chances while giving little away ourselves. There was more in it for us today, but it wasn’t enough in the end and it hurts to go home empty-handed."

Johannes Eggestein: "We were disorganised as a collective for both goals and Leipzig took advantage with players like Šeško and Xavi. It was tough to go behind so soon after our own chance and you can't be more resolute than Noah with his shot that hit the bar. We were unlucky there, but I don’t want to put it down to luck today because we could have defended better here and there. All in all it was a decent performance."

Noah Weißhaupt: "We were unfortunate in the first half. We hit the post and at the other end the ball went in. We conceded the second fairly quickly as well. We played very well in the second half and had chances of our own. And if the ball had gone in from my chance it would have been 2-1 at the break and it would have been a different game after that. On some days a shot like that goes in, but not today unfortunately. Overall, we played well but just didn't have any luck."

Marco Rose (Leipzig head coach): "We were very good in the first half but had to survive three really dangerous moments. We gave little away, but the quality was not half bad. We were very patient. I'd have preferred it if we were a bit faster getting into the spaces where we can up the tempo with the players we have. Although we went in two up, we had words of warning for the players because we knew it wasn't over. We started well after the interval without looking like adding a third. St. Pauli were more dominant after the sending-off and we came through one or two dangerous situations, but all in all it's a performance we can build on. We kept a clean sheet and got two nice goals. In the end we deserved to win."

Photos: Witters