Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso has admitted that Atalanta were the better side in the Europa League final, after seeing an end to a 51-game unbeaten run by Leverkusen on Wednesday night.
Alonso’s side are the champions and invincibles of Germany but have now missed out on crucial silverware after losing to Atalanta in the Europa League final, being dominated in many aspects of the game.
Speaking in a post-match interview, Alonso commended Atalanta for their tactical superiority on Wednesday night, indicating the Italian side as a hard nut to crack for his side to come back from a 3-0 deficit.
It was a great ride for Leverkusen but Atalanta managed to stop them to win the #UEL trophy#3SportsGH pic.twitter.com/lZzVbrv6BA
— #3Sports (@3SportsGh) May 23, 2024
“We could not cope with many difficult situations because Atalanta, they demand of you so much. One-on-one situations, duels, we were not getting the ball in the right positions. They did that so good, and we were not able to come back so it was not meant to be. The unbeaten run has ended but congratulations to Atalanta, they deserve it,” he said.
- Xabi Alonso emerges as top candidate for Tottenham job
- Lookman scores hat-trick as Atalanta beat Leverkusen in Europa League final
Alonso’s side still have another title to battle for in the German Cup final on Saturday, May 25 when they face FC Kaiserslautern, and will be aiming to complete a domestic double to end their impressive season.
The streak may have ended, yet the feat attained by Leverkusen this season will be remembered by many football fans as one of the best runs in history.
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