“The atmosphere was electric all evening”

Mainz 05 2 - 1 ACF Fiorentina

Niko Bungert: “The boss did everything right today and the team played fantastically well. We didn’t let the goal get us down, but instead deservedly came back thanks to a great display of energy and determination. It was brilliant to see. Hats off to the fans as well – the atmosphere was electric all evening. We got so much energy from the stands, even when things weren’t going so well in the first half. For us, it was a real luxury to be able to bring on those substitutes, who really piled the pressure on our opponents. A result like this really does the team good.”

Benedict Hollerbach: “It was about time we scored, in what was a hectic and emotional game – it was a real fight. I would have liked it if we’d had more composure and control; we were lucky to not concede another goal or two. In the end, it was an emotional rollercoaster with a last-minute winner. We can learn some lessons from this evening. We always want to create experiences like this as a team. For me personally, scoring today was a relief and it’s something I want to continue doing – it’s what I expect of myself. Today’s game should give us the inspiration to play with confidence in Frankfurt on Sunday.”

Jae-sung Lee: “We really needed this win at home – it’s just an amazing experience. We played well for 15 minutes before conceding, and then we came back after the break, which was important. The position I play in doesn’t matter to me – I just want to help the team, as long as I don’t get stuck in goal. We know we have an important game on Sunday and we’re desperate for a win there too.”

Nadiem Amiri: “It’s such a relief. We’ve put in so much effort, but it’s no guarantee that you’ll play well all the time. It was crucial that we finally got the reward we deserve. Every success helps us move forward; lately it’s been a lot of little steps, but today we had luck on our side. We bounced back from conceding and did well at the basics after the break. We got our reward in the end because we were brave. Everyone should enjoy tonight, and then tomorrow it’s back to work. I expect an open and heated match on Sunday – it’s a derby and both sides want to win.”