In the end, it was not a game of equals. The Leverkusen players agreed on that after the clear 1:5 against FC Bayern. What was the reason? There were different explanations, but there was also agreement.
“Of course we have the claim that we can stand up to Bayern or Dortmund in a home match, but there is a difference in strength,” Bayer coach Gerardo Seoane told “DAZN” after the defeat to FC Bayern, stressing. “It was always clear to us that there is a difference between Bayer Leverkusen and Bayern Munich. One team is one of the top 5 in Europe and has the ambition to win the Champions League every year. We rate ourselves differently.”
But the fact that the score was so clear at 1:5 might have pissed off one or the other. Lukas Hradecky, for example, had frustration written all over his face after the final whistle. “We didn’t deserve this full stadium atmosphere,” the goalkeeper told “DAZN” and added: “The first goal put us off track, then three goals in the last seven or eight minutes. At half-time the game was already over for us. “
What was the reason? The Finn didn’t quite know how to explain it, though he seemed less than pleased with the attitude of his teammates. “Everyone has to ask themselves how they approached the game. Whether he feels like he gave everything. Those are the questions we have to ask ourselves.” Jonathan Tah’s analysis, meanwhile, was more nuanced. “We were not awake enough, not biting enough. We wanted to play bravely and aggressively, but we didn’t manage that at the beginning. Then they started rolling, which made us even more insecure. “
“Then there were seven crazy minutes in which Bayern clearly showed us why they are the best team in Germany. “
GERARDO SEOANE
Similarly, Seoane had seen it. “The first half was brutal, of course,” the Swiss noted, citing the early deficit as one of the reasons for the clear defeat. “The young team couldn’t cope with that so quickly. Then there were seven insane minutes in which Bayern clearly showed us why they are the best team in Germany. “
Positive things in half two
The deficit was not solely responsible, however, “youthful madness” should also be mentioned, which led to “us wanting to do more going forward after the early deficit.”
In combination with the extremely offensive alignment in central midfield, which was due to the absences of Charles Aranguiz (calf problems) and Exequiel Palacios (cold), an expensive madness, as it turned out. “We didn’t have a proper defensive six available on the pitch – and you felt that. The fact that Bayern always found the free man at the back of the two sixes caused us enormous problems,” Seoane noted.
The Swiss left no doubt that the defeat was deserved. “Self-critically, we simply have to admit that we were not up to scratch today – especially in the first half. We didn’t manage to be handy, to solve it tactically correct, but also to fill the game with emotions.” Nevertheless, he rated the performance after the change of sides positively. “In the second half I saw a tendency upwards. That was more positive.”
What remains? Wipe your mouth and move on, or as Tah put it: “We lose together, we win together. The last few weeks have given us enough mental strength to get through this game, learn from it and show a different face in the next game. “