Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso acknowledged Atalanta were simply superior in every way during the Europa League Final, as the 51-game unbeaten run was ended. ‘We could not cope.’
The Germans were the favourites going into the showdown in Dublin and people were already talking about them achieving an unbeaten Treble, as they triumphed in the Bundesliga and will play Kaiserslautern in the German Cup Final on Saturday.
However, Ademola Lookman bagged a hat-trick and Juan Musso was barely ever tested in this extraordinary evening for La Dea, who emerged 3-0 winners.
“We did not plan on having a bad day today, but it was not meant to be,” Xabi Alonso told TNT Sports.
“We could not cope with many difficult situations that we were preparing because Atalanta demand so much of you. One v one situations, duels, but we were not getting the ball in the right situations to take advantage. They do that so well.”
Xabi Alonso bows to Gasperini
Leverkusen managed to many late comebacks this season to keep their 51-match streak going, but when Lookman added a third, it was over.
“We were not able to come back and get that back. It was not meant to be. The unbeaten run has come to an end but congratulations to Atalanta, they deserve it, so nothing more to say.”
Atalanta surprised by going all-attack with Gianluca Scamacca, Teun Koopmeiners, Lookman and Charles De Ketelaere together, but it paid off, as they were dominant.
“Yes I would say so. When they scored the first goal they got a lot of energy. We probably tried to play too many passes in the first phase when we should have tried to attract the first player then go long a bit more,” confessed Xabi Alonso.
“It was not about tactics. Individually they were better and as a team as well. We have to learn from that. It hurts that it comes in a big day like today but we have another final on Saturday and we will try to learn from today.”
La Dea eliminated Sporting CP, Liverpool and Olympique Marseille along the way to their first ever UEFA trophy.