Timo Werner ran, showed fight and worked hard, however, on Matchday 22 of the Bundesliga, he didn’t have any luck in front of goal for Stuttgart against Schalke. The striker faced off against his U21 colleagues, Leon Goretzka and Leroy Sané in the 67 minutes he played, before being replaced by goalscorer Martin Harnik.
The Stuttgart striker had five shots in the game, a personal best for him in the Bundesliga and was the best in front of goal. The 19-year-old has played a big part in his team’s recent form and their eight game unbeaten run. DFB.de spoke to the striker, who has been capped four times at U21 level, about the draw in Gelsenkirchen, Stuttgart’s unbeaten streak and the positive changes under head coach Jurgen Krammy.
Question: Timo Werner, how do you rate the draw against Schalke?
Timo Werner: As a point won and not as points lost. We were a bit unlucky to concede but afterwards we came into the game a lot more. The second half was really good because we had a lot more chances. All in all, we can be happy with the 1-1, because at 1-0 Schalke had some really good chances.
Question: Were the Schalke players a bit tired in the second half because of their match against Donetsk on Thursday, in Ukraine?
Werner: I don’t know whether they were tired. I believe that we simply played better and put them under more pressure. We did that really well and earned the draw.
Question: You were one of the most active players on the pitch today and had five shots on goal, more than any other player. Why couldn't you score?
Werner: (laughs) If I knew that, then I would have scored. When it comes down to it, it matters how the whole team performs and not just one player. Obviously, as a striker you are always trying to score. I also tried to bring the midfielders into the game. With a bit of luck we could have been ahead after five minutes, instead we went behind. Although at the moment, we have confidence in ourselves to get over setbacks like that and to fight back. Overall, we can be happy.
Timo Werner ran, showed fight and worked hard, however, on Matchday 22 of the Bundesliga, he didn’t have any luck in front of goal for Stuttgart against Schalke. The striker faced off against his U21 colleagues, Leon Goretzka and Leroy Sané in the 67 minutes he played, before being replaced by goalscorer Martin Harnik.
The Stuttgart striker had five shots in the game, a personal best for him in the Bundesliga and was the best in front of goal. The 19-year-old has played a big part in his team’s recent form and their eight game unbeaten run. DFB.de spoke to the striker, who has been capped four times at U21 level, about the draw in Gelsenkirchen, Stuttgart’s unbeaten streak and the positive changes under head coach Jurgen Krammy.
Question: Timo Werner, how do you rate the draw against Schalke?
Timo Werner: As a point won and not as points lost. We were a bit unlucky to concede but afterwards we came into the game a lot more. The second half was really good because we had a lot more chances. All in all, we can be happy with the 1-1, because at 1-0 Schalke had some really good chances.
Question: Were the Schalke players a bit tired in the second half because of their match against Donetsk on Thursday, in Ukraine?
Werner: I don’t know whether they were tired. I believe that we simply played better and put them under more pressure. We did that really well and earned the draw.
Question: You were one of the most active players on the pitch today and had five shots on goal, more than any other player. Why couldn't you score?
Werner: (laughs) If I knew that, then I would have scored. When it comes down to it, it matters how the whole team performs and not just one player. Obviously, as a striker you are always trying to score. I also tried to bring the midfielders into the game. With a bit of luck we could have been ahead after five minutes, instead we went behind. Although at the moment, we have confidence in ourselves to get over setbacks like that and to fight back. Overall, we can be happy.
Question: The team is on an eight game unbeaten run. What do you think of Stuttgart’s position in the league at the moment?
Werner: We have a reasonable cushion between us and the teams below and that’s obviously the first thing we’re looking at. We aren’t looking up yet. The upcoming fixtures (against Hannover, Mönchengladbach, Hoffenheim, and Ingolstadt…) are going to set the trend for us. If we can win these games, we will be able to get away from the teams below us. That is our next target.
Question: How much of an influence has head coach Jürgen Kramny’s work been on the team’s good form in the past few weeks?
Werner: We are playing with a different system under Kramny. It’s not as brutally offensive, it’s a bit more defensive. He has brought out the best in the players. Because of this, the coach has been able to make playing football fun again. However, we do have something now that we didn’t have before, which is the luck needed to win games.
Question: Is the team’s good form also helpful for you, in order to try to get yourself noticed for the U21 national team?
Werner: Of course, the U21 team is one of my aims. In March, the European Championship qualifiers continue against the Faroe Islands (24th March in Frankfurt) and I am already looking forward to it.
