Alexandra Popp scored the winning goal 15 minutes before the end of the match to ensure that VfL Wolfsburg beat FC Bayern München in the Women’s Bundesliga clash. The Germany women’s international therefore played a decisive part in the win.
“It wasn’t a good feeling to see FC Bayern München deservedly win the league in the past two years,” said Popp. “But this year we are a contender. We want to win the league.” VfL Wolfsburg have established themselves as title contenders even after a difficult start to the season. But Popp warns the team not to get too used to this position. “We can’t make the same mistakes as last season. We have to be fully focused every week.”
The Germany international spoke to DFB.de in an interview about the important win over Bayern, the atmosphere in the team and their goals for this season.
DFB.de : Alexandra Popp, what does the win against Bayern mean to you?
Alex Popp: It was an important win for us for various reasons. First of all it was important because it meant we keep our position near the top of the league. We don’t want to be chasing our competition week after week and be put in a difficult situation to get out of early on. We have managed to avoid this. We also want to get revenge on Bayern for our disappointing results against this recently as we didn’t manage to beat them in any of our last six meetings. We have definitely made a statement. We are force to be reckoned with this season.
DFB.de: The atmosphere in the team must be great at the moment.
Popp: Of course it is. We put pressure on ourselves at first because we wanted to win so badly. We don’t feel this pressure now after the win. It wasn’t a nice sight for us to see FC Bayern München deservedly win the league two years in a row. We want to win the title this year. I have a good feeling about it after the win.
DFB.de: What did you think of the match?
Popp: We started well and fully deserved to be in the lead through Lara Dickenmann’s goal. I felt like we could have scored more goals in the first half. But we threw away too many chances.
DFB.de: And after the break?
Popp: We ran out of steam. We pressed too hard in the first half. It was only a matter of time until FC Bayern got the equaliser and they managed to do so just 20 minutes before the final whistle. Then we were floundering a little but we got going again quickly. The winning goal came from a brilliant counter-attack and was a very, very important goal. Then the game was back under our control.
DFB.de: Are you proud to have scored the winning goal?
Popp: I am pleased that I managed to help the team. It sound’s cheesy but it really doesn’t matter who scores. The most important thing is that we win. Being a striker, of course I’m going to be particularly happy to score.
DFB.de: What do you think of the current situation in the Women’s Bundesliga?
Popp: We’re only three games in, it’s very even at the moment. Potsdam have started well with three wins in three. Freiburg and Essen have both made a formidable start to the season. And we’re in a good starting position. But it’s clear we want to keep our focus every week. If we don’t we’ll start to have problems. We had to experience that painfully last season.
DFB.de: You host newly promoted side MSV Duisburg next week.
Popp: This is what I was just touched on. Duisburg got their first win of the season at the weekend when they beat Jena 3-1. They’re going to have a lot of confidence now. It’s our goal to get the three points on Saturday, But we also can’t be careless, especially not against Duisburg. They have a lot of quality players in their squad and have managed to earn promotion to the Women’s Bundesliga. We will prepare for the game well.
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Alexandra Popp scored the winning goal 15 minutes before the end of the match to ensure that VfL Wolfsburg beat FC Bayern München in the Women’s Bundesliga clash. The Germany women’s international therefore played a decisive part in the win.
“It wasn’t a good feeling to see FC Bayern München deservedly win the league in the past two years,” said Popp. “But this year we are a contender. We want to win the league.” VfL Wolfsburg have established themselves as title contenders even after a difficult start to the season. But Popp warns the team not to get too used to this position. “We can’t make the same mistakes as last season. We have to be fully focused every week.”
The Germany international spoke to DFB.de in an interview about the important win over Bayern, the atmosphere in the team and their goals for this season.
DFB.de : Alexandra Popp, what does the win against Bayern mean to you?
Alex Popp: It was an important win for us for various reasons. First of all it was important because it meant we keep our position near the top of the league. We don’t want to be chasing our competition week after week and be put in a difficult situation to get out of early on. We have managed to avoid this. We also want to get revenge on Bayern for our disappointing results against this recently as we didn’t manage to beat them in any of our last six meetings. We have definitely made a statement. We are force to be reckoned with this season.
DFB.de: The atmosphere in the team must be great at the moment.
Popp: Of course it is. We put pressure on ourselves at first because we wanted to win so badly. We don’t feel this pressure now after the win. It wasn’t a nice sight for us to see FC Bayern München deservedly win the league two years in a row. We want to win the title this year. I have a good feeling about it after the win.
DFB.de: What did you think of the match?
Popp: We started well and fully deserved to be in the lead through Lara Dickenmann’s goal. I felt like we could have scored more goals in the first half. But we threw away too many chances.
DFB.de: And after the break?
Popp: We ran out of steam. We pressed too hard in the first half. It was only a matter of time until FC Bayern got the equaliser and they managed to do so just 20 minutes before the final whistle. Then we were floundering a little but we got going again quickly. The winning goal came from a brilliant counter-attack and was a very, very important goal. Then the game was back under our control.
DFB.de: Are you proud to have scored the winning goal?
Popp: I am pleased that I managed to help the team. It sound’s cheesy but it really doesn’t matter who scores. The most important thing is that we win. Being a striker, of course I’m going to be particularly happy to score.
DFB.de: What do you think of the current situation in the Women’s Bundesliga?
Popp: We’re only three games in, it’s very even at the moment. Potsdam have started well with three wins in three. Freiburg and Essen have both made a formidable start to the season. And we’re in a good starting position. But it’s clear we want to keep our focus every week. If we don’t we’ll start to have problems. We had to experience that painfully last season.
DFB.de: You host newly promoted side MSV Duisburg next week.
Popp: This is what I was just touched on. Duisburg got their first win of the season at the weekend when they beat Jena 3-1. They’re going to have a lot of confidence now. It’s our goal to get the three points on Saturday, But we also can’t be careless, especially not against Duisburg. They have a lot of quality players in their squad and have managed to earn promotion to the Women’s Bundesliga. We will prepare for the game well.
