Kiel reflect on first Bundesliga win: “Now we have something to build on.”

Holstein Kiel starters Patrick Erras, Nicolai Remberg, and Phil Harres have had a chance to comment on their side’s historic first ever Bundesliga win. 

Holstein Kiel’s 1-0 win over Heidenheim this afternoon finally allows the Schleswig-Holstein Storks a chance to breathe a much-needed sigh of relief. There will be no more talk of how much longer the Bundesliga debutants will have to wait for their first ever top flight victory. 

Goal-scorer Patrick Erras acknowledged the historical connotations of his game-winning tally in his post-match interview. The former 1. FC Nürnberg professional himself commemorated his first ever top flight goal in 30 Bundesliga appearances. 

“I was told straight away that my shirt is going in the museum,” Erras laughed when conducting his post-match interview with Sky Germany, “It’s amazing, unbelievably important, and a huge relief.”

Midfielder Nicolai Remberg – one of the newly-promoted side’s more promising performers this year – agreed. The 24-year-old Bundesliga rookie noted that getting this particular monkey off the team’s back would prove immensely helpful. 

“The last few weeks have naturally been eating away at us,” Remberg noted in his own Sky interview, “This is extremely important mentally. I’ve only had a feeling like this when we were promoted. This first Bundesliga victory is historic for the club and has huge significance for us as a team.”

“Now we have something to build on,” Remberg continued, “and that will do us a world of good in the coming weeks.”

After trying out numerous tactical constellations over the initial nine rounds of the season, Kiel trainer Marcel Rapp might have finally found a winner with a 3-5-2 that features current de-facto captain Timo Becker and new summer acquisition Tymoteusz Puchacz as advanced wingbacks. 

One of the biggest recent surprises both today and in the Pokal was a start for 22-year-old German striker Phil Harres up front. A roster that features strikers  Jan-Fiete Arp, Alexander Berhardsson,Shuto Machino and Benedikt Pilcher (all of whom have scored this season) has an interesting new face. 

Harres quietly joined the Storks from fourth division side FC 08 Homborg this past offseason. Though the youngster hasn’t gotten his name on the scoresheet yet, he impressed with his work ethic and movement as a target forward in Saturday’s win. 

“I wasn’t in the squad for the last few weeks,” Harres said in his post-match interview, “I had my first Bundesliga game in Stuttgart, my first start in Köln, and now I’m involved in the first win. It’s an incredible feeling.”

“As a team, this is a huge boost for our morale,” Harres went on “The last few weeks have not been easy.”