Reactions: "The lads gave everything"

Borussia Dortmund came away empty-handed on Niko Kovac's debut. The coach, sporting director Sebastian Kehl and defender Waldemar Anton spoke to the media about the 2-1 defeat to VfB Stuttgart. The match reactions.

Niko Kovac (to Sky): "The boys really gave everything, 100% right up to the last minute. The same goes for the substitutes. The result was the only thing I didn't like. The rest was completely fine. We shouldn't have come away on the losing side. The team did a lot of things well, both on and off the ball. But we didn't always make the right decisions in the opposition penalty area and stopped ourselves reaping the rewards. Because before the goal that made it 1-0, we actually had a crystal-clear opportunity to score when Karim went through. For the goal that made it 2-0, I would like to know whether this is a new phase of play or not. Two people came from a passively offside position. I know we have a lot of work to do."

Sebastian Kehl (in the mixed zone): "We performed well in many phases, were very dominant in the first half and should have taken the lead at the beginning of the second period. We lacked a bit of luck, clarity and determination. We conceded the first goal immediately after a situation from which we could have taken the lead. The second goal was of course avoidable because we were far too exposed at the back post and made it too easy for VfB. But overall, we didn't give much away and controlled and dominated the game. But in the end, we lost it."

Waldemar Anton (in the mixed zone): "You could see the intensity and the willingness to run that we showed on the pitch. The own goal was bitter. I had to go for it. But we had opportunities to come back. That has to be our takeaway. There were a lot of good things. But ultimately, you have to score more than one goal."
Transcribed by Boris Rupert