Kasper Hjulmand: "We got the three points and I am very happy"

Kasper Hjulmand spoke to Sky after Bayer 04 Leverkusen defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 3-1, in the third matchweek of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. It was not only Hjulmand's first win with his new side in his debut appearance, but also the first victory for Leverkusen this season, after two winless results under Erik Ten Hag.

The former Danish national team coach, who led them to a semifinal finish at UEFA EURO 2020, opened the discussion by saying, “What a match. A lot happened this evening, but we got the three points and I am very happy.”

When asked what he told the team after a performance with various different ups and downs, the 53-year-old said, “I said congratulations - also, that I think we did not allow many chances, that we had a lot of energy, and that we worked a lot defensively. We can definitely improve, of course, but three points are very important for us.”

When asked to give an overall summary of the match, Hjulmand said: “It was very nice in the stadium, a lot of energy - as I said, on the defensive side, our high pressing was good in the first half. I think we were very, very compact with the back line; we did not allow much, only two shots. We created chances and were strong when we needed to press.”

Regarding Robert Andrich's first half yellow card, a factor in his eventual sending off in the second, Hjulmand was asked if he said anything to the 30-year-old captain. “No, of course not - Robert has played many matches, I do not think that was a topic of discussion at all.”

He was asked about the two red cards and how he managed the situation, especially in the final minutes with a one-goal lead at the time. “I do not want to criticise too much - I think that there was one major misunderstanding. [Regarding Ezequiel Fernández's motion to referee Deniz Aytekin], I think that the official saw a hand movement like this [demonstrates it] and it was a complete misunderstanding. But apart from that, I have not seen it a second time. I just want to enjoy the win and then we will see.”

Lastly, Hjulmand spoke about the upcoming match with FC København on Thursday. He said regarding facing the Danish side: "København and Parken are very special to me. But when we play the match there, it will be about the match itself - we will prepare, and we will be ready for it."