Korkut: 'Moving on step-by-step'

Tayfun Korkut...

... on the current situation:
"In general, I feel positive. Above all in the last two matches there have been signs to make us feel we're back on track. We can see the team is keen to play football and they can do it. We are moving on step-by-step. I've no doubt we'll get back to winning ways and it's just a question of when."

… on training during the international break:
"We can train well even with a few players. Sometimes you just need a small tactical change to get a team back on track. That's what it's about now: taking the next steps with the players here and then linking it up with the others on their return."

… on the injuries to Bender and Tah:
Jonathan feels good. He's put in extra shifts in training and has done well over the last two days. He left the training pitch with a smile. The next step is to get him back in full training. It's a bit complicated with Lars. He’s incredible at gritting his teeth. If we'd let him he would have started training again long ago and fought his way through the pain barrier. I felt I need to rein him in – but only in discussion with him. We'll have to see how the injury develops and when he can get back on the pitch."

… on Stefan Kießling and the strikers:
"We know what we have in Stefan. He's experienced and he knows where the goal is. It's important he’s fit again. He has quality that we and the team will definitely need in the next few games as he's a classic box player. We have lots of players capable of scoring. We just need to make sure we are more direct in our moves, even more ambitious and play to the end with the necessary courage."

… on his first three games:
"The team was too passive at times against Bremen, above all in the second half, but there were some good signs. For example, we were good on the break, very solid, we tried to combine and show more sides of our game. Against Atlético we were in the match for the full 90 minutes, had control and were always capable of scoring a goal. We had a very, very good first half in the game against Hoffenheim but we tired a bit in the second."

… on targets and quality:
"We want to improve on our strengths. We want to have controlled aggression. Control means reacting to be able to play on the break quickly and create goalscoring chances. We want to try to get each player to bring his strengths to benefit the group. The recognition that something is happening gives the team and the coaches strength. Everybody is incredibly motivated. I'm enjoying being here at Leverkusen when I look at the whole setup and how the club functions. Also, because I see the potential and quality here. That's important in terms of feeling good and being passionate about work."

… on language and experience abroad:
"I left Germany in 1995 and returned in 2009. 15 years is a long time so I've obviously seen a lot and also experienced influences from different cultures. That's helped me in my job as a coach but also in dealing with people. But for good communication you need to speak one language and that's German here. From time to time there are one or two bits of Spanish or English but you have to learn German as is the case here. That makes it easier to coach."