Hamburg - Since joining Eintracht Frankfurt last summer, has emerged as a key member of the side, starting all 20 of their Bundesliga matches this term to date.

The 24-year-old was unable to add to his impressive five-goal tally in Hamburg on Saturday, but it mattered little as Frankfurt sailed to a 2-0 win on the road to keep their dreams of UEFA Champions League football next season well and truly alive - even if that's not yet an issue for Inui, who spoke to bundesliga.com post-game...

bundesliga.com: Takashi Inui, did Eintracht deserve to win in spite of Hamburg's second-half resurgence?

Inui: It's true we played better in the first half and then Hamburg put us under pressure, but at the end of the day, we deserved to win thanks to the goals from our new signing Srdjan Lakic.

bundesliga.com: Lakic had only trained with the team three times prior to the match. How did he get on in terms of understanding with his new team-mates?

Inui: It got better as the game wore on, but of course we still have to get to know each other better. I'm very confident, though, that it will be even better in games to come.

bundesliga.com: It's only the third time this season that Eintracht have kept a clean sheet. How important is it for self-confidence not to concede?

Inui: What matters is winning, but of course it's also nice when you don't concede. We've cemented our position with these three points and extended the gap between ourselves and the teams below.

bundesliga.com: Are you beginning to entertain thoughts of Europa League or even Champions League qualification?

Inui: That's not an issue at all. We want to get to the 40-point mark first and play our very best in every game, then we'll see what happens.

bundesliga.com: Your next game is at home to Nuremberg. That's going to be a particularly special game for you, isn't it?

Inui: (smiles) Yes, because with Hiroshi Kiyotake and Mu Kanazaki, there are two Japanese players in Nuremberg. Of course I don't want to lose it and, in front of our own fans, we really have to win all three points.

bundesliga.com: Eleven Japanese players now ply their trade in the Bundesliga, which was enough reason for the DFL to launch a Japanese version of its official website. What do you make of it?

Inui: I've seen the site and I'm delighted that so many Japanese players are now in the Bundesliga. It's a good place for us. I hope the new website attracts even more of our compatriots to follow our games and the Bundesliga.

Interview by Michael Reis

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