Peter Bosz on Friday afternoon looked ahead to the home game with Heracles Almelo, but also looked back briefly at the lost UEFA Champions League match against Atletico Madrid. Yet for him, the next challenge is already in focus. Heracles is on a strong run and Bosz makes it clear that his team must shift gears immediately: the focus is entirely on Saturday night's match.
How does it feel to work toward the next game after a defeat?
"That feels bad, because I don't like losing. But I also realize that we put up a great series before that. I watched the game back at night and was less critical then than immediately after. We started well, were strong for thirty minutes and before halftime it could have been 3-1. Instead we unfortunately got a goal against. After halftime there was still nothing going on, but then a few moments we didn't defend well enough and those goals against fall."
How difficult is the switch from Atletico Madrid to Heracles Almelo?
"We are approaching this as we do every match: completely focusing on Heracles. We forget the game against Atletico now, we have to move on. With so many duels, you simply don't have time to dwell too long on what went right or wrong, wins or losses."
Is it special to meet Hendrie Krüzen again?
"It's certainly always fun, but less fun in a match context. Playing against a friend is not fun when you both want to win. We are both too much winners. This week we didn't have any contact for that reason, either."
How do you view Ernest Faber's role at Heracles?
"It's a tough job to be both technical director and head coach. That he takes on those two roles at the same time, I find very clever. I learned a lot in my time as technical manager, and that helps me now as trainer. It's good to have been on the other side of the table for once."
Is Ivan Perišić fully employable again?
"His recovery is also my responsibility. He has returned incredibly quickly where other players with his injuries are out of action for a few weeks, he has only been sidelined for a week. But the longer I let him play, the greater the risk of another injury. He is further along than last week, but is not yet fully fit. We have to see how many minutes he can play tomorrow."
How do you view Heracles as an opponent?
"Heracles is in an excellent phase, five games unbeaten, that's great. But we have to stop them. If we reach our own level, we just have to win this match."