Mats Hummels paid tribute to the Signal Iduna Park faithful after Borussia Dortmund's 3-3 draw with Paderborn, saying they were crucial in helping the side come back from three goals down to snatch a share of the points.

BVB opened Matchday 12 on Friday night against bottom-of-the-table Paderborn, but despite being overwhelming favourites found themselves 3-0 down inside the opening 45 minutes after goals from Streli Mamba (x2) and Gerrit Holtmann.

Jadon Sancho, Axel Witsel and Marco Reus returned fire in the second half - Reus's equaliser coming in the 92nd minute - and Hummels was frank in his appraisal of the game after Christian Dingert's final whistle.

Question: Mats Hummels, how do you explain Dortmund's first-half performance?

Mats Hummels: "Those were cheap goals to concede, three counter-attacks or long balls where they just ran away from us. It was the simplest kind of football. Our biggest problem is giving the ball away. We've been losing possession even when the opponent puts no pressure on us. That's our biggest shortcoming. And there wasn't much else that was good, you have to say."

Question: BVB also found it difficult to win the ball back from Paderborn…

Hummels: "We didn't press well in the first half, and Paderborn played it out from the back calmly. Our pressing didn't trouble them. Then they had a speed advantage which led to their goals. There were too many shortcomings in the first half. It's hard to find positives. We fell short in almost every respect. I don't think anyone came away from the game feeling any differently."

Question: Did you get the hairdryer treatment at half-time? How come you came back into the game?

Hummels: "On the one hand, [Lucien Favre] told us that we weren't out of the game yet. We needed to score once and then we were back in it, with a bit of momentum. I also found the support of the fans in the second half remarkable, because we still weren't playing that well even though we came back. The support was there no matter what. That helped us get the goals in the end. Of course, it was fundamental that we switched to a 4-1-4-1 system at half-time. With and without the ball, that helped us a lot."

Dortmund are the only football club in history to have averaged a home support of more than 80,000. - imago images

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Question: There were also times when you could hear some fans whistling?

Hummels: "We could handle the whistles. We don't have to hide from that. They're entitled to do that, even after the final whistle. To be 3-0 down and come back and draw 3-3 is still worth something. But with the overall context it's easy to understand the whistles."

Question: It seems that these same mistakes are being repeated game after game?

Hummels: "Everyone must be aware that these mistakes cost the team a lot. Above all, I'm talking about giving away possession cheaply and a lack of concentration. Situations where a player plays it to the opponent without being under pressure. I was in Munich for three years with Bayern and it was crucial that that didn't happen. It's absolutely necessary for top teams to control possession and dominate. We've been giving the ball away too easily."

Question: So, is it a footballing problem?

Hummels: "No, we can't say that. It's simply a question of concentration and focus. Concentration and focus on the relevant things are very important given all the talent we have."

"I'm telling you, Mats, between us we can plot the path ahead." - Axel Witsel, Mats Hummels and Marco Reus (l-r.) are three of the senior players in BVB's squad. - imago images

Question: Can experienced players like you, Reus and Witsel lift the team now? 

Hummels: "It's not like we don't also make mistakes. We do that as a team overall. We try to play our role as leaders. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't."

Question: Are your season goals in danger?

Hummels: "We don't have to talk about such big things at this stage. Let's see how everything develops until the winter break. We simply have to play better now. We're the players on the pitch who are making mistakes. I have to say it has nothing to do with the coach when we give away possession cheaply."

Dietmar Nolte reporting from Dortmund

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