“It was a real testament to our character”

Lech Poznań 1-1 Mainz 05

Niko Bungert: “It was a really intense game. Poznań pressured us early on, but we recovered. We then took the lead and were playing really well until the ‘very unfortunate’ penalty decision. That was unjustified in my opinion and the decision to award it after the VAR check is a mystery to me. We kept at it though and defended bravely in the end, even with ten men. Taking a point like this is a small success.”

Daniel Batz: “Even with our situation and with everything that went against us including the red card, we still managed to earn a point. It was a real testament to our character and a compliment to the team. Such a courageous performance should motivate us. Some things went well, but obviously not everything. It’s a small step in the right direction, but our focus right now is on recovery. I never thought I’d be making my European debut as a 34-year-old – it’s just fantastic. I’m really happy I played so well.”

Paul Nebel: “The penalty incident is quite frustrating, but there’s nothing we can do about it. There’s little point in dwelling on it. I think some things, especially defensively, were good. We want and need to keep improving. We have a strong three-man defence, but I don’t want to say too much considering the challenge we have to face in three days’ time. Getting a point in such a loud stadium, while also being a man down, should give us confidence and a boost. Hopefully we can reward ourselves with a win soon.”