When looking at the table, Jonas Hofmann had to smile for a moment.
“Yes”, the national player from Borussia Mönchengladbach admitted, it was “important that we stand in front of them”.
Hofmann was referring to 1. FC Köln, because with the 2: 1 (2: 0) mandatory victory against the brisk newly promoted VfL Bochum, the Gladbachers overtook their arch rivals.
But the demands on the Lower Rhine are different.
At least since the glittering cup night with the gala against FC Bayern (5: 0) you know what coach Adi Hütter's team is capable of.
The three points were therefore not only important in order to overtake Cologne, but "so that we don't lose touch with the international places," said Hofmann.
Despite the extremely poor start to the season, the foals are only three points behind the coveted Champions League place.
"We are doing well and can be partly satisfied," was Hütter's conclusion after the tenth game day.
However, the coach also announced that some things would be "discussed internally".
Because after a strong first half with goals from Alassane Plea (12th) and Hofmann (40th), the Gladbach team took it easy in the second half.
“The first half was outstanding.
Maybe by then we had already had in mind that we already had the three points, ”said Hofmann.
After Danny Blum's (86th) goal, the Gladbachers, who were still unbeaten at home, even had to worry.
Goalkeeper Yann Sommer saved the win against Milos Pantovic in stoppage time.
“It was totally unnecessary that it got tight again.
We've already given away enough points, and today it almost happened again, ”said national player Matthias Ginter at DAZN.
The people of Gladbach no longer want to give presents - on the contrary.
In addition to qualifying for international business in the league, they also dream of winning the cup.
"We have stated that we want to go to Berlin," reported Hofmann.
The round of 16 at the second division club Hannover 96 is a "feasible task".
Against Lower Saxony, however, Borussia lost the 1992 cup final on penalties.
Now the "clear goal is to get through one lap," said Hofmann.
The Gladbachers won their last title with the 1995 cup. It would be even nicer for this lean period to end than a place in the table before Cologne.