Xabi Alonso rues missed unbeaten Treble chance in Europa League defeat to Atalanta - 'I will learn from today'
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByOli Gent
Published 22/05/2024 at 22:32 GMT
Xabi Alonso has said that he will "learn" from Bayer Leverkusen's 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in the UEFA Europa League final. The loss dashed Die Werkself's unbeaten season and any lingering chance they had of clinching an invincible Treble. Ademola Lookman's hat-trick was what separated the two sides, as Gian Piero Gasperini's men lifted their first European trophy in Dublin.
Xavi insists 'nothing has changed' despite rumours over his future
Xabi Alonso has said that he will “learn” from Bayer Leverkusen’s UEFA Europa League final defeat to Atalanta that saw their unbeaten season come to an end.
The Spaniard’s side had gone 51 games in all competitions without tasting defeat, but they were brought crashing back down to Earth by an Ademola Lookman-inspired Italian team, with the Nigerian forward netting a hat-trick in Dublin.
Leverkusen had arrived in the Irish capital as firm favourites after a stunning season that saw them win a maiden Bundesliga title by 17 points, going unbeaten domestically, and they have reached the final of the DFB-Pokal as well.
They had the chance to take one further step towards a history-making invincible Treble here, but it proved a step too far.
Speaking to TNT Sports post-match, a dejected Alonso was gracious in defeat, but rued the missed opportunity.
“We were not planning to have a bad day today,” the former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder said.
“It was not meant to be today. We could not cope with as many difficult situations as we were preparing, because Atalanta demand you [to do] so much. We were not getting the ball into the right positions because they do that so well. We were not able to come back and negate that. It was not meant to be.
"The unbeaten run has come to an end. Congratulations to Atalanta, they deserve it.
“We have tried to play too many passes in one, when we should have played a little bit longer. It was not about tactics. Today, they were better individually and [collectively] as well. It hurts that it comes in a big defeat, but we have another final on Saturday, and we will try to learn.”
“They are a very special team. Today was not our day. Normally, we get in better positions with our game, but today we couldn’t.”
Alonso was keen to look past his initial disappointment, and cast the spotlight back on what has been a sensational season for Leverkusen, and Alonso himself, in only his second season in senior management.
The Spaniard inherited a Leverkusen side mired in the relegation zone of the Bundesliga in October 2022, and he guided them to sixth-placed stability in his first term.
Alonso hurt but 'proud'
“The result today doesn’t change a bit how proud I am of my players of what we are doing,” Alonso said.
“It hurts, because we wanted to lift that trophy, but you can’t get everything. We were lifting the Bundesliga on Saturday, and we will have the chance to lift the Pokal this Saturday.
"The effort that the guys have given, after 51 games, we have come to the 52nd. Okay, we have lost, [that] is football. They are the ones that deserve it.
“This season has surpassed all expectations and what we have achieved as a club is great. In the last week, winning the Bundesliga, playing today – we couldn’t make it – and going for the Pokal, it’s unbelievable. That means a lot. [My] first [full] year as a coach is going quite well."
Alonso also detailed the success strategy that he and his backroom staff implemented to achieve their spectacular results.
“It starts with a lot of work that we did; which players and which qualities we needed for this season,” he said. “We made a lot of wise and intelligent decisions, most of them right. That’s why we have been so consistent the whole year.
"Once the players feel the idea, they feel how they want to play and that works; that’s when you have a treasure, and you need to be feeling that treasure and you can relax. Today, it didn’t work.
“There are many things, for sure. I have said it. 18 months ago they came, and I was no one in [the] coaching [world]. They [Leverkusen] believed [in] me, and they gave me a chance, and we have a very good connection.
"Many players came [for] the project. I think that I have stuck to the club. I, for sure, will learn from today.”
- - -
TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article
Advertisement
Advertisement