Bayer Leverkusen suffered a painful defeat at the Metropolitano against an Atlético de Madrid that demonstrated its ability to overcome adversity and pull off an epic match. After the match, Xabi Alonso, the coach of the German team, analyzed the game and expressed some complaints related to the refereeing and his team's emotional management.
The Impact of the First Expulsion and the Change in Dynamics
Xabi Alonso highlighted that the match completely changed after Julián Álvarez's equalizer. "Until the 1-1, we were connected, and the game favored us, but the goal left us shaken. They took advantage of that moment, caught their breath, and knew how to bring the game to their ground; that's where we lost stability," he explained. The coach praised Atlético's ability to manage the timing and emotionality of the match, something that, according to him, his team failed to match.
Regarding Piero Hincapié's expulsion, Alonso admitted not having seen the second yellow card but made it clear that the first one seemed "doubtful" to him. Additionally, he hinted at the referee: "After the expulsion, it was clear that the referee leaned toward the other side." Despite this, he avoided delving into his criticisms of the refereeing: "I haven'thing more to say about the referee."
The Lesson from the Metropolitano
The Bayer Leverkusen coach acknowledged that his team was not up to the task in the decisive moments: "We knew we couldn't let ourselves be provoked, that we had to play our game. But Atlético brought the match to their ground. This is a lesson for us: at this level, you have to be at your best for 95 minutes."
Despite the disappointment, Xabi Alonso emphasized that he doesn't consider his team far from competing with rivals like Atlético. "We lacked that little bit to control the emotionality of the match; we didn't manage to maintain control or attack with more continuity. We will remember this for future matches where we want to compete at this level," he reflected.
Praise for Atlético and Julián Álvarez
The Basque coach didn't hesitate to acknowledge the strengths of Atlético de Madrid, especially its ability to connect with the fans and bring matches to a favorable dynamic. "It's a team that knows how to play with changes of pace, with a lot of intensity. That connection with the public is unique, and they have achieved historic comebacks thanks to it. Today, that emotional strength gave them the victory," he declared.
Regarding Julián Álvarez, the protagonist of the night, Xabi Alonso was clear: "I value him a lot; he's one of the best forwards in the world. His role at Atlético is essential, and today he showed why. Out of nowhere, he got the team into the match. Very few players can do that."