Vogel "proud" of Fürth's survival whilst paying homage to Rot-Weiss Essen

The Greuther Fürth gaffer underlined just how bitter the relegation play-off is and paid his respects to Rot-Weiss Essen who missed out on promotion against his team.

Photo: Alex Grimm/Getty Images.

Having maintained their 2.Bundesliga status for another season with a 2-1 win tonight, Heiko Vogel remained magnanimous after his Greuther Fürth side beat Rot-Weiss Essen. 

“Relegation might be a nice thing for spectators and the media. But for two clubs, it's an ugly one. There is always one club that won't make it," Fürth's head coach said after the game. 

"I wouldn't have wanted Rot-Weiss Essen as our opponent beforehand, and they showed why. I've rarely seen such intensity in a stadium; it was a difficult away game, and we lost 1-0.

“In football, luck and misfortune are separated by mere centimeters. We could have taken the lead in Essen with the shot that hit the crossbar, and again today,” Vogel explained. 

The 50-year-old was full of admiration for their 3.Liga opponents who he feels could easily get promotion if they continue with their efforts. He also remembered to praise his own team too. 

"For Essen, who played brilliantly and impressively, it's an ugly picture. I'm all the more proud of my team for managing to overcome this challenge, even with a bit of luck.

“I'm sure that if Essen continues like this, they won't need relegation [play-off] next year. I wish them the best of luck,” Vogel concluded, bringing an end to his press conference.