May 22nd 2024.
Bayer Leverkusen's remarkable unbeaten streak has finally come to an end at the hands of Atalanta in the Europa League final. The newly-crowned Bundesliga champions entered the match with an impressive 51-game undefeated run in all competitions, making it Xabi Alonso's first full season as a senior manager.
However, it was Gian Piero Gasperini's Atalanta who emerged victorious in the finale, with Ademola Lookman's stunning hat-trick securing their first ever European silverware. Despite their disappointment, Leverkusen must now regroup and focus on their upcoming German cup final against Kaiserslautern this weekend.
In a post-match interview with TNT Sports, Alonso couldn't hide his disappointment but made sure to commend Atalanta for their deserving win. He acknowledged that his side had a bad day and couldn't cope with Atalanta's demanding style of play, especially in one-on-one situations.
When asked if the better team had won, Alonso replied in agreement, stating that Atalanta's first goal gave them a lot of energy and they were individually and collectively better. He also admitted that they could have played longer passes instead of trying to play too many in the first zone.
Despite the defeat, Alonso remains proud of his squad for their achievements throughout the season and insists that the result doesn't change that. He also praised Atalanta for their brave and special style of play, which they have been executing for the past few years under Gasperini.
Alonso and Gasperini shared a lovely moment on the field after the match, showing nothing but respect for each other. The defeat may hurt, but Alonso and Leverkusen will learn from it and move on to their next challenge.
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