Javier Hernandez's goal was not enough to prevent Leverkusen from losing to Rhine rivals Köln on Matchday 12 - © © imago
Javier Hernandez's goal was not enough to prevent Leverkusen from losing to Rhine rivals Köln on Matchday 12 - © © imago

Chicharito: 'There's still a long way to go'

xwhatsappmailcopy-link

Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez is refusing to push the panic button after Bayer 04 Leverkusen's 2-1 home defeat to Rhine rivals 1. FC Köln - Die Werkself's fifth league loss of the season.

Leverkusen 1-2 Köln

Goals: 0-1 Maroh (17’), 1-1 Hernandez (33’), 1-2 Maroh (72')

Javier Hernandez (Leverkusen forward): "We’re very disappointed. The game changed when the red card came, so it was a very difficult game to try and get the draw or even win. It’s like I’ve always said, when we win we’re not the best team in the world, and now that we’ve lost we’re not the worst team in the world either. We need to be calm because the results are coming. We have the opportunity to win our next to games in the Champions League and there’s still a long way to go in the Bundesliga."

Roger Schmidt (Leverkusen head coach): "It's really tough to take because we set out to do so much more. It was an even game in the first half. We knew that Köln are dangerous from set-pieces. We lacked the strength to fight back after the red card."

Dominic Maroh (Köln defender): "I’m not a beast in the air, like Toni [Anthony Modeste] for example. I could perhaps be a little more ambitious and aggressive in certain situations, and that’s what I set out to do today. It also depends on the delivery of the corner, my own movement, what my opponent is doing - it’s a variety of factors that have to come together, and I’m glad they did today. If you decide a derby like I did today, you’re very proud. It was more or less a perfect day."

Timo Horn (Köln goalkeeper): "There’s nothing better than a derby victory, which is why we’re over the moon today."

Peter Stöger (Köln head coach): "Obviously we're very happy. It's not a given that you'll come away from Leverkusen with a win. We had big intentions. I'm very happy with how my team played."