Xabi Alonso admitted he was ‘proud’ of his Bayer Leverkusen facet, despite stating that their Europa League ultimate defeat by Atalanta was ‘painful’.
The German side’s fairytale period came to an abrupt ending on Wednesday night in Dublin, as Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta thumped Leverkusen 3- at the Aviva Stadium, to stop their 51-game unbeaten run and extinguish their treble hopes.
‘For me, the end result these days does not change one particular bit how I feel about my players or what we have been accomplishing,’ the Spaniard claimed to the BBC immediately after the match.
‘It hurts due to the fact 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 carry the DFB Pokal on Saturday.’
Leverkusen have not shed in virtually a calendar year, with their past competitive defeat coming on Could 27, 2023 – a 3- defeat to VFL Bochum.
Xabi Alonso has admitted his ‘pain’ after Bayern Leverkusen experienced defeat in the Europa League final
The German facet ended up crushed 3- by Atalanta in the remaining, ending their unbeaten streak
Ademola Lookman (right) scored a hat-trick of sensational goals to seal the victory for the Serie A facet
‘It wasn’t our working day. We’ve had a poor night time. It hurts that it transpired in these an important match.’
He included: ‘The normality is not to endure a initially defeat in the 52nd activity. It is extraordinary what we obtained and we ought to be very pleased. But it is unpleasant.’
In minimal more than a 12 months-and-a-fifty percent Alonso has managed to galvanise this Bayer Leverkusen team to win their initially Bundesliga title, when also reaching the Europa League and German Cup ultimate.
His document in the league at the moment sits at an extraordinary 2.65 points-for each-video game, with Alonso’s side acquiring amassed a whopping 90 details this time, just a single shy of Bayern Munich’s report 91-issue 2012-13 marketing campaign.
‘Yes for certain this season and achievements have surpassed all anticipations. I was hoping and receiving all set to maybe do a little something excellent but this has been so significantly additional,’ he reported, noting his side’s outstanding kind.
‘To achieve what we have for a club like Leverkusen is good. To be in the final week of the time obtaining lifted the Bundesliga and participating in right now we could not make it and then heading for the Pokal far too usually means a lot. To start with 12 months as a mentor, it is heading pretty well.’
The victory was Atalanta’s very first European trophy and their very first piece of siverwear in 61 many years
Alonso lumped praise on his Leverkusen side for how perfectly they have executed to go 51 video games unbeaten
The Spanish Mentor (left) mentioned that his side’s performances this period had ‘surpassed expectations’
Leverkusen had grow to be the kings of the last-gasp objective this year, but just after going 2- down, Atalanta tightened their grip on the match, and it seemed Alonso’s facet, who rank top in Europe this season for the most decisive goals just 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 plans to tutorial his side to their initial European trophy and their to start with piece of silverware in 61 decades.
‘Yes I would say so [they were better in every aspect],’ he stated to TNT Sports even though talking on Leverkusen. ‘When they scored the very first target they received a whole lot of energy.
‘We almost certainly attempted to participate in way too many passes in the to start with period when we should really have tried to attract the first player then go prolonged a bit more.
‘It was not about techniques. Individually they had been much better and as a crew as properly. We have to understand from that. It hurts that it will come on a big day like now but we have a further closing on Saturday and we will attempt to understand from today.’
Gian Piero Gasperini (remaining) mentioned that his side ‘were extrodinary’ during their Europa league marketing campaign
Atalanta experienced crushed Sporting, Liverpool and Marseille to attain the closing, prior to besting Leverkusen
Atalanta manager, Gasperini lumped praise on his players right after they developed a dominant display to overturn the Bundesliga champions.
‘I feel we wrote record, also for the way we received it,’ the Atalanta boss told TNT Sports.
‘It was just remarkable, we defeated Liverpool, Sporting who gained the championship. When we faced Liverpool they have been 1st in the Premier League… And now the German champions.
‘Incredible. The boys have been extraordinary, a unforgettable efficiency.’