Kübi, what did you hear more often from your teammates after Sunday's game: Thanks for the great block on Alario, or: How was Bailey so free to finish?

(laughs) Actually, there wasn't anything to hear; we didn't really talk much about it. I slipped before their goal, and it also happened to me in the first half. It was just a bit slippery in Leverkusen. I don't think I could do that much about it.

Leverkusen's goal in the 70th minute ensured an exciting end to the game. How big was the relief at the final whistle?

It was very big, especially because we haven't really beaten any top sides often over the past few years.
And when did the joy of victory set in?

That all merged into one. We came down a bit in the dressing room, then we had a long bus trip back to Freiburg, so there was plenty of time to celebrate.

It wasn't exactly a game that you were expected to win. How do you feel going into training knowing that you have 34 points after 23 games?

Everything is a bit easier. In football there is a lot that goes on in your mind, and now that we know that we're virtually safe from relegation, the legs are a bit lighter and we have a bit more self-confidence. And maybe we'll be able to do even better.

It can't harm the mood in the changing room either.

We have great changing room atmosphere, that's a known fact. The atmosphere is very consistent - and maybe at the moment it's even a bit better. After the first few matchdays, it was a little bit precarious, but not since then. However, we know that the win in Leverkusen was only three points and that we're facing another top team in Leipzig. It definitely won't be an easy game.

Speaking of top teams, you've been at Freiburg for five and a half years. How is it that this year we've managed victories against teams like Dortmund and now Leverkusen, who we've rarely managed to get points against in the past?

Good question. Here at home, especially with our fans in the stadium, we've always been strong. We've beaten one or two good sides here, like Leipzig, for example, or Mönchengladbach. It's really nice that we're managing to do it on the road now, too.

Like Leverkusen, Leipzig are also a big team who we will face on Saturday. What makes the second-placed side so strong?

At the moment, Leipzig are winning the close games too. That's what it takes to keep up there, because Bayern do that every year. Maybe that's why it's a little more exciting at the top this season.

Our first leg in Leipzig was a clear 3-0 defeat What can we take from the Leverkusen game to get something against Leipzig as well?

We might have to learn more from the first game in Leipzig than from the game in Leverkusen.

In what way?

We know how Leipzig play and that they just have brutal quality. They don't need many chances to score. We were down 1-0 in the last game against them and we conceded a silly and questionable penalty. We didn't have the luck on our side at times. At the moment, we do, partly because we've worked hard for it.

Interview: Marcel Burger, Sina Ojo

Photo: Achim Keller