Bayer Leverkusen qualified for the Europa League final last night after beating AS Roma 4-2 on aggregate. The Italians led 2-0 in the second leg in Germany, but Xabi Alonso’s side pulled off a sensational comeback to equalise.
Thus, Leverkusen avoided going into extra time and continued their unbeaten streak to 49 such games, an absolute record in the history of European football.
After qualifying for the Europa League final, Xabi Alonso announced that his team have a clear objective, wanting to achieve the treble this season, with the new Bundesliga champions also qualifying for the German Cup final.
“We are happy to be in the final. We will play two finals in one week (no Europa League and German Cup on May 22 and 25). We showed a lot of character after the second goal scored by AS Roma.
I looked into the eyes of the players after that goal and saw that they wanted more. We still have a chance to win three trophies and my boys deserve to win the treble“, said Xabi Alonso.
Leverkusen, close to a historic treble
Bayer Leverkusen, who remained invincible after the comeback with AS Roma, is in the final of a European cup for the third time. The “Aspirins” also contested the UEFA Cup final in the 1987/88 season, when they won the trophy, and the Champions League final in the 2001/02 season, when they lost to Real Madrid.
This season, Xabi Alonso’s side have the chance to achieve a historic treble, without having lost a game throughout the season. 4 games separate the German champions from this performance.
Bayer Leverkusen still have to face Bochum and Augsburg in the championship on May 12 and 18. Then, on May 22, they will play the Europa League final against Atalanta, and on May 25, they will meet Kaiserslautern, in the last act of the German Cup.
Tags: Xabi Alonso explosive announcement qualifying Europa League final Boys
