Alonso: Leverkusen Needs a Miracle to Reach the “Champions League Quarterfinals”
Xabi Alonso, the manager of Bayer Leverkusen, said his team needs a miracle to reach the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League after their heavy 3-0 defeat to German rivals Bayern Munich on Wednesday.
English striker Harry Kane scored once in each half to lead the six-time European champions to victory in the first leg in Munich. It was a disastrous night for the visiting team, who suffered their first loss to Bayern since Alonso took charge in October 2022.
Alonso told the DAZN platform: “The second goal, the red card, and the penalty, everything went Bayern’s way. That’s why we got this result.”
He added: “We need to show a mature performance to control the game better. Mistakes and details are important, but it was a bitter evening for us… One more or less goal could have made a huge difference.”
He continued: “Miracles always happen in football, and we need one now. Let’s wait and see… That’s football. It’s not the first time, and there’s still a game at home.”
Bayern Munich manager Vincent Kompany did not enjoy the victory for long.
He said: “It’s the first half. We still have the second leg to play. This game is completely in the past, and we need to stay fully focused to prove ourselves again in the next game.”
He explained: “We will remain calm. We have always shown our readiness for all challenges, and we must continue this way.”
