Xabi Alonso regrets missing the opportunity to achieve an unbeaten Treble in the Europa League after losing to Atalanta.

Xabi Alonso, the former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder, has expressed his disappointment following Bayer Leverkusen’s defeat to Atalanta in the UEFA Europa League final. Leverkusen’s unbeaten season came to an end as they were defeated by an Ademola Lookman-inspired Italian team, with Lookman scoring a hat-trick in Dublin.

Leverkusen had been the favourites heading into the final, having enjoyed a remarkable season that saw them win the Bundesliga title by a margin of 17 points and remain unbeaten domestically. They had also reached the final of the DFB-Pokal. However, their hopes of completing an invincible Treble were dashed by Atalanta.

Speaking after the match, Alonso admitted that his side had not been able to cope with the challenges posed by Atalanta. He praised the Italian team for their performance and acknowledged that they were the better team on the day. Alonso also highlighted the need for his team to learn from the defeat and improve for their upcoming final.

Despite the disappointment of the defeat, Alonso emphasized the achievements of Leverkusen throughout the season. He reflected on the progress the team had made under his management, having taken over a struggling side in the relegation zone in October 2022. Alonso expressed his pride in his players and their efforts, and looked ahead to the opportunity to lift the Pokal in the upcoming final.

Alonso also discussed the strategy that had contributed to Leverkusen’s success. He credited the club’s intelligent decision-making in terms of player recruitment and the players’ understanding of the team’s playing style. Alonso acknowledged that there were lessons to be learned from the defeat, but overall, he expressed his gratitude to Leverkusen for giving him the opportunity to coach and for the strong connection he had developed with the club.

In conclusion, while the defeat in the Europa League final was a disappointment for Alonso and Leverkusen, the season as a whole has been a remarkable success. Alonso remains proud of his players and their achievements, and is determined to continue learning and improving as a coach.