Julian Weigl said that Borussia Dortmund's 1-1 draw in Leipzig on Saturday was a big improvement over Monday's result with the same scoreline against Augsburg.
Weigl, 22, told Sky after the match: "It was great step forward if you compare this game with our 1-1 draw against Augsburg.
"We were more agile, pressed higher. It was a very attractive match for the spectators and with a bit more luck we can take the lead here but were caught offside too often.
"We managed to come back after going behind and that was a good response."
After Dortmund had two goals ruled out for offside, Leipzig -- beaten by bottom club Cologne last weekend -- took the lead on 29 minutes through Jean-Kevin Augustin.
The visitors, though, soon levelled when Marco Reus rounded Leipzig's goalkeeper and neatly slotted home.
Neither team was able to conjure a winner during a scrappy second half, but Dortmund forward Michy Batshuayi somehow missed an open goal just after the hour mark.
"We tried to keep the pressure up," Weigl added.
"We definitely wanted to win. Leipzig raised their game as well but we always managed to get foot in between.
"We could have been more clinical with our counter-attacks. There was certainly more for us in this one."
With Schalke, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen all having claimed victories earlier on Saturday, Dortmund dropped down to third place behind the Royal Blues while only being separated by one point to fifth place.
The Black and Yellows remain unbeaten under Peter Stoger, who has won five and drawn five in 10 league games, but are yet to unearth the full potential of their talented roster.
"It's the sum of many small details," Weigl said.
"It's important that we work on that every day and that we continue to grow into a team so that we can rekindle the attractiveness of our game to the former standard.
"For us, it was important that we were better in our possession play today. That was something that had been missing in recent weeks as we reverted to long balls far too often.
"If we manage to improve [the build-up play] as well as our pressing, which was already pretty good today, then I'm optimistic."
Meanwhile, Maximilian Philipp, who turned 24 on Thursday, was elated to make his comeback from injury.
The attacking midfielder was subbed on for the last 15 minutes of the game after overcoming a knee injury sustained in December.
"It was the best birthday present that I'm finally capable of playing again without any ailments," Philipp told BVB Total after the game.
"Of course, I still have to improve my fitness levels but I overcame the injury quicker than anticipated. I'm just glad to be back with the team.
"A point in Leipzig is not bad but I thought that there was more for the taking."
Dortmund will meet RB Leipzig's sister club Salzburg in the round of 16 of the Europa League on Thursday before hosting fourth-placed Frankfurt in the Bundesliga on the following Sunday.