The final home match of the season against Bayer 04 Leverkusen is also a shootout for the Champions League spots. Going into Matchday 33, VfB are in fifth, level on points with fourth-placed Leverkusen. Kick-off at the MHP Arena is at 15:30 CEST on Saturday 9 May. Ahead of the clash, Maximilian Mittelstädt spoke about the end of the season, opponents Leverkusen and the reasons behind VfB’s strong campaign.
Hello Maximilian, the Bundesliga run-in promises all sorts of excitement. As a sportsman, how do you handle these pressure situations?
Maxi: “Pressure is always part of football. Obviously, our aim is to be as successful as possible and take the opportunity to finish in a Champions League place. I see it as motivation that we can achieve something great together. I’ve experienced other pressure situations in my career: when it’s just about staying up at the end of the season, it’s a completely different kind of strain, which takes a much heavier toll. In contrast, we have a ‘positive pressure’, which we can turn into extra energy.”
Maximilian Mittelstädt:
We showed we can hurt Leverkusen with the 4-1 win in the reverse fixture.
What will be key to getting the best out of these remaining two Bundesliga matches?
Maxi: “We shouldn’t look too much at what’s happening either side of us, but just prepare and take it one match after the other. We’ve shown many times this season what we’re capable of producing on the pitch; we need to do that in the final matches too. It’s important to remain composed because with the tight situation in the table, every point and every goal could be crucial.”
The first of the two remaining games is against Bayer Leverkusen. What kind of encounter are you expecting?
Maxi: “Games against Bayer Leverkusen are normally very hard-fought. That will be the case again this time as it’s a crucial clash for both teams for the Champions League. We showed we can hurt Leverkusen with the 4-1 win in the reverse fixture. Closing down, attacking with purpose, taking chances – that’s what it will come down to again this time.”
The fact that VfB are challenging in the top third of the table is also down to the defensive work of the whole team. What are the reasons for your defensive strength?
Maxi: “Basically, we’ve taken a big step forward in this area. It starts with the attack, how we press – and goes through every part of the team. We normally play with the right energy in our defending, which we also have to do in the remaining matches. On top of that, we have good quality in defence.”
