Niko Kovac spoke on Karim Adeyemi and Waldemar Anton

“I think the boys gave their all today,” Kovac told the Sky microphones. “Everyone gave 100 percent right to the end. We controlled the game. We shouldn’t have left the pitch as losers.”

Kovac specifically reference the instance in which winger Karim Adeyemi (49th) missed a clear cut chance at scoring the opening goal. One minute later, an own-goal from former Stuttgart captain Waldemar Anton enabled Stuttgart to take a 1-0 lead.

Adeyemi also played a through ball into the attacking area in the 47th minute that no BVB colleague was able to reach. These moments shortly after the restart ended up serving as critical junctures in the match.

Kovac spoke on Anton’s own-goal at the post-match press conference. Stuttgart’s second goal – in Kovac’s opinion – could have been disallowed due to the passive offside position of two VfB players.