“The point is a step in the right direction”

Heidenheim – Mainz 05 1-1 (0-1)

Silvan Widmer: “We were in control of the first half and deservedly took the lead. Things were a bit different after the break. We unfortunately conceded another goal following a cross from the middle of the park, which is something we’ll need to work on ahead of the last two games. At the end of the day, both teams were in it to win it, but we’ll have to make do with a draw. We’re treating every game as if it were a final, which we’ll continue to do next week. Of course, I was really pleased to be in the starting XI again.”

Martin Schmidt: “We’ve moved one point closer to Union, and are still very much on the hunt. We have to keep this mindset, as we didn’t do enough today to deserve the win. Both teams had their chances, but in the end, the draw is a fair result. Playing here is tough, that was clear to see. Our subs helped us and made us stronger when they came off the bench. The point is still a step in the right direction, and it’s up to us to finish the job.”

Jonny Burkardt: “We became too passive after the break and weren’t as successful at stopping their attack. This made it trickier for us, and Heidenheim were able to get lots of crosses in, which is how they scored their equaliser. I’m still asking myself what I could have done better in the chance at the end of the game - perhaps I should have chipped it into the path of Kevin Müller. It’s frustrating, as I would have been happy to have come away with a hard-fought 2-1. In fairness, many other teams have struggled when playing here, and we didn’t deserve the win today. Nevertheless, we did well to pick up a point and are looking to start the new week with our foot on the gas. We’ll continue to focus on ourselves and will aim to play our game to the best of our ability.”