Champions League
Bayer’s Rolfes after 3-0 against Porto: “Obviously it will be difficult”
Leverkusen’s head of sport Simon Rolfes sees little chance for Bayer in the Champions League. photo
©Oliver Berg/dpa
After the successful debut in the Bundesliga, Leverkusen are also reaching their own limits in the Champions League with new coach Alonso. The Spaniard still has a lot of work to do.
Sports director Simon Rolfes sees little chance of Bayer Leverkusen progressing in the Champions League. “Of course it will be difficult now, no question about it,” said Rolfes after the 0: 3 (0: 1) against FC Porto. Leverkusen lost 2-0 at the Portuguese champions last week and are bottom of Group B after four games. “Of course it’s bitter,” said Rolfes.
In two weeks, Leverkusen have to play at Atlético Madrid and on the last day of the preliminary round at the beginning of November against the group leaders FC Bruges. “We will try everything,” Rolfes continued. Defender Jonathan Tah said something similar: “We still have two games left. We go into every game wanting to win it.” With just three points from four games, Leverkusen are bottom behind Brugge (10), Porto (6) and Atlético (4).
“The next game is like a final for us,” said Alonso. For him, the 0:3 against Porto was the first Champions League game ever. “You saw again that at this level every mistake is punished. That was the difference today,” said the Spaniard, who had succeeded Gerardo Seoane as coach last week after the 2-0 loss at Porto. Alonso’s team won 4-0 against FC Schalke in the Bundesliga on Saturday.
“We have to improve, that’s clear,” said the Bayer coach. “It’s tough today, but now we have to come back.” On Saturday, the factory team, which started the season badly, will play at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. “I have to convince the team that we can do better. It’s not just a matter of luck,” Alonso continued.