Stach: ''A point would have been deserved''

Here's what the players and coaches had to say after TSG Hoffenheim's 3-2 loss at home to Bayer 04 Leverkusen.

Finn Ole Becker: ''It's disappointing, we had them on the ropes. We came back really well after going 2-0 down, played some good football and enjoyed ourselves out there. We came close to going up 3-2, but then we conceded one down the other end. Unfortunately, we lost to a very good team today. We put in a good performance. They have great quality, but we still shouldn't have conceded as many as three goals. We have to work on that as a team and try to improve. I was glad that trust was given to me to play today."

Anton Stach: ''The disappointment is huge, especially after the second half. We were very proactive and would have deserved a point based on the second half. It's a bitter pill to swallow to come away empty-handed after a performance like that. Leverkusen have incredible quality, they transform individual actions into exceptional results. We weren't lacking for much today, we had our chances. We kept plugging away even after going down 3-2, but unfortunately it wasn't enough. It was an individual action that decided the game. Leverkusen are at the top for good reason, but we could have got something from the game today. I don't know how far away I was when I scored. I saw that Hradecky was standing too far forward, so I just took a shot.''

Wout Weghorst: ''It was an intense game. We're disappointed, of course, because it was a needless defeat after the second half. We came back really well and told ourselves at the break that we wouldn't give up. The pressing had an effect. We saw that we could create chances. I came close to the goal for 3-2 with my header, it was a perfect cross. I just wanted to let it glance over the top of my head. Deliveries like that are what I thrive on. Against an opponent like them, you have to make the most of a chance like that if you to get something from the game. We made it too easy for Leverkusen in the first half. We did better in the second half. All things considered, it's a good sign that we can hold our own against a team like them. We've faced some very strong opponents this week. We still have a lot of scope for improvement. We can work to be more effective in both penalty areas.''

Pellegrino Matarazzo: "It's a shame. Our guys put in a solid performance. Unfortunately, the goals we conceded were too cheap from our perspective, we didn't have our wits about us there. We moved the ball well through the midfield and possession was much more effective in the second half than in the first. The reality is that an opponent like that will immediately punish you for any mistakes. But we can take a lot from the game. It was a good performance from us, but not good enough to win the game."

Xabi Alonso (Bayer 04 Leverkusen coach): ''That was a very important win for us today. We had good control of the first half, but then we conceded two goals in the space of a few minutes in the second. We knew that something like that could happen, but we fought back and scored a third goal. It was important to respond to them drawing level at 2-2. We weren't fragile, we showed a good mentality. We practised the set-piece yesterday and I'm glad it worked out today for the goal to put us 2-0 up. Grimaldo has the quality to convert opportunities like that.''