Bayer Leverkusen deserve all the titles they can win, says Xabi Alonso
Sign up now: Get the biggest sports news in your inbox
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso celebrates after beating Roma 4-2 on aggregate to progress to the Europa League final.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Follow topic:
LEVERKUSEN – Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso says his team deserve all three titles available to them this season after they qualified for the Europa League final by overcoming Roma.
The German Bundesliga champions, who have also reached the May 25 German Cup final, played their 49th match without defeat in all competitions, surpassing Benfica’s long-standing European record set from 1963 to 1965.
They achieved the milestone after a late comeback from two goals down to secure a 2-2 draw at home to Roma on May 9, securing their spot in the May 22 final in Dublin by 4-2 on aggregate.
“We’ll play two finals in a week as a result,” Alonso said. “We showed great character today after their second goal. I looked my players in the eye afterwards and saw that they wanted more.
“We still have the chance to win three titles. And my boys deserve all three titles.”
Leandro Paredes scored two penalties for the Italians, but Leverkusen had a slice of luck as Roma defender Gianluca Mancini deflected the ball into his own net in the 82nd minute.
Substitute Josip Stanisic then scored the equaliser just before the final whistle to send Leverkusen into the record books and said it was among the biggest moments of his career.
“Definitely one of them. We knew what was at stake, we really wanted to get to the final and I think you could see that over 90 minutes today,” said the Croatia international.
“I don’t think we would have cared in the end if we lost and still progressed because we really wanted to get to the final, but it’s even nicer this way.”
Roma’s defeat meant they failed to make it to a second straight Europa League final, after last season’s loss to Sevilla.
Leverkusen will now take on Atalanta, who claimed their biggest win after sweeping aside Marseille 3-0 and booking a place in the title decider.
Goals from Ademola Lookman, academy product Matteo Ruggeri and El Bilal Toure put the Italian Serie A side through to their first-ever European final with a 4-1 aggregate win in front of delirious fans in Bergamo.
“It was incredible not just for us, but for the people of Bergamo. It’s an incredible result,” said Atalanta president Antonio Percassi.
“We always start the season saying we want to avoid relegation. Where we are now is just unthinkable.” REUTERS, AFP
