Xabi Alonso admitted he was ‘proud’ of his Bayer Leverkusen side, despite stating that their Europa League ultimate defeat by Atalanta was ‘painful’.
The German side’s fairytale season arrived to an abrupt ending on Wednesday night in Dublin, as Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta thumped Leverkusen 3- at the Aviva Stadium, to close their 51-match unbeaten run and extinguish their treble hopes.
‘For me, the outcome now does not improve a single bit how I truly feel about my gamers or what we have been undertaking,’ the Spaniard mentioned to the BBC soon after the match.
‘It hurts for the reason that we wanted to carry the trophy but you are not able to have almost everything. We lifted the Bundesliga and we have the possibility to raise the DFB Pokal on Saturday.’
Leverkusen have not misplaced in almost a year, with their last competitive defeat coming on May perhaps 27, 2023 – a 3- defeat to VFL Bochum.
Xabi Alonso has admitted his ‘pain’ right after Bayern Leverkusen suffered defeat in the Europa League final
The German facet were overwhelmed 3- by Atalanta in the closing, ending their unbeaten streak
Ademola Lookman (correct) scored a hat-trick of sensational targets to seal the victory for the Serie A facet
‘It was not our day. We’ve experienced a negative night time. It hurts that it took place in this kind of an crucial match.’
He extra: ‘The normality is not to go through a very first defeat in the 52nd match. It really is extraordinary what we reached and we really should be proud. But it is really unpleasant.’
In very little in excess of a calendar year-and-a-fifty percent Alonso has managed to galvanise this Bayer Leverkusen group to earn their to start with Bundesliga title, whilst also achieving the Europa League and German Cup remaining.
His document in the league at this time sits at an extraordinary 2.65 factors-per-video game, with Alonso’s side owning amassed a whopping 90 points this period, just a person shy of Bayern Munich’s history 91-level 2012-13 campaign.
‘Yes for certain this season and achievements have surpassed all anticipations. I was hoping and obtaining all set to perhaps do anything excellent but this has been so significantly additional,’ he stated, noting his side’s exceptional form.
‘To achieve what we have for a club like Leverkusen is wonderful. To be in the previous 7 days of the year acquiring lifted the Bundesliga and actively playing today we could not make it and then heading for the Pokal too indicates a lot. Very first yr as a mentor, it is heading pretty very well.’
The victory was Atalanta’s to start with European trophy and their first piece of siverwear in 61 years
Alonso lumped praise on his Leverkusen aspect for how effectively they have executed to go 51 video games unbeaten
The Spanish Mentor (still left) mentioned that his side’s performances this year experienced ‘surpassed expectations’
Leverkusen had come to be the kings of the past-gasp target this season, but soon after heading 2- down, Atalanta tightened their grip on the match, and it appeared Alonso’s side, who rank major in Europe this season for the most decisive plans immediately after 90 minutes, could not muster a comeback.
Former Everton and Fulham winger Ademola Lookman stood up as Atalanta’s hero on the night time, scoring a hat-trick of sensational goals to tutorial his side to their initially European trophy and their initial piece of silverware in 61 years.
‘Yes I would say so [they were better in every aspect],’ he explained to TNT Sports activities while speaking on Leverkusen. ‘When they scored the very first target they got a good deal of vitality.
‘We likely tried out to play much too several passes in the first stage when we must have tried out to draw in the to start with participant then go very long a little bit far more.
‘It was not about tactics. Independently they had been superior and as a crew as well. We have to study from that. It hurts that it arrives on a massive working day like now but we have another ultimate on Saturday and we will check out to discover from currently.’
Gian Piero Gasperini (left) said that his side ‘were extrodinary’ in the course of their Europa league marketing campaign
Atalanta had crushed Sporting, Liverpool and Marseille to reach the final, before besting Leverkusen
Atalanta manager, Gasperini lumped praise on his gamers soon after they produced a dominant screen to overturn the Bundesliga champions.
‘I imagine we wrote record, also for the way we gained it,’ the Atalanta manager told TNT Athletics.
‘It was just remarkable, we defeated Liverpool, Sporting who received the championship. When we faced Liverpool they were initial in the Leading League… And now the German champions.
‘Incredible. The boys have been remarkable, a unforgettable effectiveness.’
