Alonso: Leverkusen Must Learn from Champions League Loss to Atletico

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso says his team lacked maturity in their 2-1 Champions League loss to Atletico Madrid.

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso lamented his team's failure to hold onto a first-half lead against 10-man Atletico Madrid, who staged a remarkable comeback to win 2-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday. Alonso attributed the defeat to his team's lack of maturity, saying, “I think when you're competing at the highest level you have to learn from these experiences. In these situations, it's not just football that counts, it's also the maturity that we have at that moment and today I think we lacked that point at the highest level and we have to improve that if we want to compete in these matches.”

Alonso emphasized the importance of learning from the experience, particularly with the knockout stage approaching. Leverkusen is currently sixth in the standings with 13 points and is seeking a top-eight finish to avoid a playoff. Alonso stated, “We're still in the group stage but if you're in the round of 16, in the quarter-finals, especially when you play away from home, you have to learn from these moments, understand what it is that you need, not only in the game itself but the game's energy, reading the game and learning what to do when you're a bit overwhelmed by the situation, how to react.”

Alonso acknowledged that gaining experience in high-pressure situations is crucial for his young team's growth. He said, “It's very easy to say it but the best thing is when you live it on the pitch that's where you learn how to read it, which sometimes is complicated. For us, it's a good experience to be competing at such a high level.” Leverkusen will host Sparta Prague in their final Champions League group-stage game next Wednesday.