Kasper Hjulmand addressed journalists following his debut as coach of Bayer 04 Leverkusen, which resulted in a 3-1 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt during the third matchweek of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. This win marked Hjulmand's first with the team and also their first of the season after two previous matches without a victory under former coach Erik Ten Hag.
In his post-match comments, Hjulmand expressed his satisfaction with the performance, stating, “What a match. A lot happened this evening, but we got the three points and I am very happy.” He acknowledged the team's mixed performance but emphasized the importance of the victory.
When asked about his feedback to the team, Hjulmand noted, “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.”
Regarding the match itself, he described the atmosphere in the stadium as energetic and highlighted the team's defensive efforts, particularly their high pressing in the first half. He remarked, “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.”
On the topic of Robert Andrich's yellow card in the first half, which led to his sending off in the second, Hjulmand stated that he did not discuss the matter with the captain, as he believed Andrich was experienced enough to handle it.
Hjulmand also addressed the two red cards issued during the match, mentioning a misunderstanding regarding one of the incidents involving Ezequiel Fernández. He expressed a desire to focus on the win rather than dwell on the officiating, saying, “I just want to enjoy the win and then we will see.”
Looking ahead, Hjulmand spoke about the upcoming match against FC København, expressing a personal connection to the team and venue. He stated, "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."
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