Sousa heaps praise on 'fantastic' Basel

• Basel coach Paulo Sousa hails "fantastic performance" after 4-0 win
• Ludogorets coach Georgi Dermendzhiev puts loss down to errors
• Man of the match Fabian Frei says everything went to plan for victors
• Match report – Basel 4-0 Ludogorets
• Next games: Basel v Real Madrid, Ludogorets v Liverpool (26 November)

Paulo Sousa, Basel coach
The way we approached the game was better. The intensity was higher, our compactness and our counterattacks were better. The way we moved the ball was better, and we noticed more quickly when there were openings and when we could outplay our opponents.

We also had the total desire, the bite, to win the game. In short, it was a fantastic performance from us. Fabian Frei did really well for us with two assists, he should be proud of himself. Second place now depends on the remaining results against Real Madrid and Liverpool. It's as simple as that.

Georgi Dermendzhiev, Ludogorets coach
After the first game against them, we knew Basel would do everything to win. That was the case. But we also made lots of individual and collective mistakes. That is, above all, why we lost.

Now we have two matches, against Liverpool and Real, and we want to play to a high standard. Those are also good tests to see where we are in terms of the title race. In the league, we have to create the platform that will allow us to play in this competition next year and meet prestigious opponents such as Basel.

Marek Suchý (unseen) makes it 4-0©AFP/Getty Images

Fabian Frei, Basel midfielder
It went pretty much as we had planned. The way the team approached the game was great. All the better that I could contribute from my side, but that's not so important. The first 30 minutes were difficult, it was quite evenly contested. But that is normal in the Champions League, there are no easy opponents.

We knew we would need to be patient and that we would have to wait for our chances. After the first two goals, it was easier for us. We gave Ludogorets hardly any opportunities. Now we have a chance to have a winner-takes-all game against Liverpool. That would be fantastic. And perhaps we will even get something against Real – we really have nothing to lose.

Anicet Abel, Ludogorets midfielder
It was difficult. We had expected a difficult game anyway, because we knew Basel play really good football. But we came here to play too. This evening they were just too strong for us. That was the difference. It always hurts when you concede more than three goals. But we are here to learn because it is the first time we are playing in the Champions League. So there is a lot of work still to do.

We have to raise our spirits, keep our heads held high, and win against Liverpool at home. There is still a lot to play for. We absolutely have to win against Liverpool at home, and then try to pick up something against Real. Anything is possible, that is football. We are going to play.