Karius: It feels like a great relief. We have three more points to our name, but we also have to wait and see how the other teams play over the weekend (Hannover and Freiburg play their games on Sunday). I don't think it was a massive breakthrough in the relegation battle yet, but it was a start.
Question: What do you expect will happen over the course of the next few weeks?
Karius: This victory will give us a boost of confidence and we aim to follow it up with a similar performance at home next weekend, although we are playing against a top side (VfL Wolfsburg). Our goal is to pick up as many points as quickly as possible, in order to have a free mindset and play to your full potential, without having to worry about the relegation battle.
FSV Mainz 05 secured a somewhat surprising 2-0 victory away to FC Augsburg on Bundesliga matchday 25 –thanks to several saves from U21 international Loris Karius. In this interview, the keeper talks about the important victory, his spectacular save against former Mainz player Shawn Parker and the relegation battle.
Question: Mr. Karius, what did it feel like to keep a clean sheet and contribute to that win with several key saves?
Loris Karius: It was obviously good for me to make a few saves again. Recent games had been quite disappointing for me as a keeper, because there was little I could do. Crowning off a victory with a clean sheet is not just something I can celebrate alone, we are all happy to have kept our opponents at bay today.
Question: Describe that moment where you made a spectacular save against former teammate Shawn Parker. What went through your head at the time?
Karius: Everything happened really quickly. The ball came into our box, then came my way and I had to extend my arm to get a hand on it. I can't really describe it in any more detail than that. It just happens too quickly. I'm happy that I was able to keep us in the lead with that save and that we managed to take three points home in the end.
Question: How important was it that your team mates managed to keep the ball away from your goal for long spells in this game?
Karius: It wasn’t the case for the first time. We already managed good defensive performances in recent games, but had one or two slip-ups which were costly. Obviously you can't defend against everything in the Bundesliga, but our defensive performances in general have been quite good recently. Disciplined and as a team. We all work for one another.
Question: How important was this victory on the road in the relegation battle?
Karius: It feels like a great relief. We have three more points to our name, but we also have to wait and see how the other teams play over the weekend (Hannover and Freiburg play their games on Sunday). I don't think it was a massive breakthrough in the relegation battle yet, but it was a start.
Question: What do you expect will happen over the course of the next few weeks?
Karius: This victory will give us a boost of confidence and we aim to follow it up with a similar performance at home next weekend, although we are playing against a top side (VfL Wolfsburg). Our goal is to pick up as many points as quickly as possible, in order to have a free mindset and play to your full potential, without having to worry about the relegation battle.
