Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso praised his side’s “exceptional” record-breaking unbeaten run but admitted it was painful to see it end in the Europa League final.
The German team has been one of the standout stories of the season, going 51 games unbeaten and winning the Bundesliga.
However, their hopes of achieving European glory were dashed on Wednesday night when they lost 3-0 to Italian side Atalanta at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium.
This defeat was their first since 27 May of the previous year. While Alonso expressed pride in his team’s accomplishments over the past year, he acknowledged that the Europa League final loss was tough to take.
“Atalanta were better than us and they deserve the trophy,” the former Liverpool midfielder said.
“It wasn’t our day. We’ve had a bad night. It hurts that it happened in such an important match.”
He added: “The normality is not to suffer a first defeat in the 52nd game. It’s exceptional what we achieved and we should be proud. But it’s painful.”
Treble hopes end but focus switches to another trophy
Leverkusen had maintained their unbeaten streak with remarkable last-minute heroics, but that wasn’t an option against an Atalanta side that dominated from the start.
Ademola Lookman scored a hat-trick, securing the Italian club’s first trophy in 61 years and dashing Leverkusen’s hopes of completing the season unbeaten and winning a treble of trophies.
“We weren’t able to play as we wished,” added Alonso.
“After the first goal they showed a great deal of energy and we couldn’t find solutions to counteract that.
“We couldn’t impose ourselves or fashion goalscoring opportunities.”
Leverkusen need to swiftly switch focus to ensure they finish a memorable campaign with a second trophy.
On Saturday they face second-tier side Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final as they look to complete a domestic double.
“To achieve what we have for a club like Leverkusen is great,” Alonso added on TNT Sports.
“To be in the last week of the season having lifted the Bundesliga and playing [the Europa League final], we couldn’t make it, but then going for the Pokal [German Cup] too means a lot.”