The Bayer Leverkusen manager is frustrated at his side’s humiliating loss to http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Barcelona-c38604 in the UEFA Champions League knock-out stage.
Bayer Leverkusen suffered a hammering at the hands of the reigning European champions in the second-leg of their UEFA Champions League knock-out stage to crash out of the competition. The Catalans won by a mammoth 7-1 margin to
go through to the quarter-finals with a 10-2 aggregate. http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Lionel-Messi-c22296 smashed five goals while Tello bagged a brace for the hosts.
Lionel Messi’s performance in the game gained him praise from the opposition manager, Robin Dutt. The tactician mentioned that his opponents were outstanding on the night and thoroughly deserved the win. Dutt stated that Barca
showed true team spirit and admired the approach of the reigning European champions.
However, the Leverkusen boss also defended his team by saying that Werkself tried their level best to upstage the Catalan giants at the Camp Nou. He admitted that it was extremely difficult to match the level of their opponents
and congratulated them on progressing further in the competition.
While talking to official FIFA website, the 47-year-old manager further added:
"I think it would be unfair to accuse my side of giving up. Barcelona became more courageous after scoring their second goal and they were able to play more freely. You have got to recognise the strength of the opponents - they
encompass the three big Ts of football: technique, tactics and team spirit.”
On the other hand, the manager insisted that it would be unfair to doubt the quality of German football in the Bundesliga. He stressed that it was a disappointing day for his side but it does not mean that German football lacks
quality compared to the Spanish sides.
"It is not fair to question German football just because Leverkusen have lost 7-1 here. I respect and recognise their performance, but it hurts because we were their opponents today," Dutt concluded.
Leverkusen will now solely focus on their Bundesliga campaign where they are fighting with Schalke for the illusive fourth spot which will enable them to qualify for next season’s UEFA Champions League. Werkself are currently fifth
on the league standings with 40 points, four points behind fourth-placed Schalke.
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