Werkself review #USGB04: Us for you – you for us

SUMMARY: MENTAL STRENGTH AND EFFICIENCY 

“It’s important for us to take our chances,” head coach Xabi Alonso declared ahead of the game. His players put that into action shortly after the kick-off. Moussa Diaby gave the Werkself the lead after a mix-up in the USG defence – and the sold-out visitors section raised the roof at the Lotto Park in Anderlecht. Bayer 04 continued to put on an excellent display after the lightning start with Mitchel Bakker deservedly doubling the lead at 2-0 on 38 minutes. Jeremie Frimpong made it 3-0 just after the hour mark (61’), Union’s Teddy Terho pulled a goal back four minutes later to make it interesting for a moment or two. Adam Hlozek rounded off the scoring with his strike for 4-1 (79’) and the game was won. Here is the match report.

REACTION: "GREAT THAT SO MANY PEOPLE CAME WITH US"

Xabi Alonso identified one element as crucial for the win at the post-match press conference: “The quality of the players is very good but the mindset is sometimes more important. We have to play with consistency and energy to win the Europa League. The mentality is good now, we are always compact and determined, and we played with confidence right to the end.” The Spaniard was also impressed as he said: “The atmosphere was obviously great today. The energy of the team and the fans was incredible. The team celebrated with the fans. That’s football, it’s brilliant. Now we have at least one more trip away ahead of us.”

And keeper Lukas Hradecky also summed up proceedings with satisfaction: “It was really great fun here tonight. There was a great atmosphere on both sides. The game went well for us and after we scored early on the opposition had to be more attacking and we were able to exploit our strength in counter-attacks. We were briefly unsettled after the restart but it was a worthy performance overall to go through to the semi-finals.” The skipper also added proudly: “I’ve just said to Jona (Jonathan Tah, ed.) in the dressing room that he should think back to where we were six months ago and the development the team has made since then.” Robert Andrich was equally emotional: “I’m very happy we won the game today. It’s great to see how many people have come with us from Leverkusen!”

PERSONNEL: TOP MARKS FOR TAH, DUO NOMINATED

The boss in defence Jonathan Tah made appearance number 31 in the Europa League in the game in Belgium - a really top stat: That makes the 27-year old the outfield player with the most appearances in the history of the competition. Tah received top marks for his display from the Rheinische Post. The reason: “Like his teammates in Bayer’s defence, the central defender always had a grip on the Belgian team’s strong and tricky attacking players. Hansi Flick must also appreciate the impressive form of the 27-year-old in recent weeks.”

The top mark from the RP went to goalscorer Bakker: “Genius and madness merged in a rather uncomfortable mix. He gave the lie to his critics not just with his goal at 2-0 and his involvement in the third goal. The Dutchman is in the vote for Goal of the Week, teammate Hlozek has been nominated as Player of the Week.

STATS: NECK-AND-NECK RACE

The hosts had 13 shots on the goal minded by Lukas Hradecky, the visitors from Leverkusen had ten attempts. The home side also had the upper hand in 54 per cent of the duels. The Werkself players had their noses in front in terms of pass completion with 83 per cent (USG: 80 per cent). Possession was split fifty-fifty. 

WHAT THE PAPERS SAY: "GERMANY'S LAST EUROPEAN IRON IN THE FIRE"

The Bild-Zeitung headline after the historic win for the Werkself: “First European semi-final in 21 years” and in addition: “Bayer, our last European hope: They are football Germany’s last European iron in the fire.” For the Kölner Stadt-Anzeiger it was “a wild ride”, kicker called the “lightning start and coolness” decisive factors in the win. The Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung called remaining in the European competition “the ray hope from Leverkusen.” The Süddeutsche Zeitung described the historic victory as follows: “Leverkusen are the only German club in a semi-final: Bayer Leverkusen can dream of a third title in the club’s history after a gala performance.” The Express sums up the game as follows: “Lightning strike starts Bayer party: A dream start, clinical finishing, wrapped up the tie. Bayer Leverkusen, flying the German flag in European competitions, have reached their first European semi-final since 2002 with a 4-1 victory over surprise Belgian team Saint-Gilloise.”

PROPERTY: THE NEXT HIGHLIGHTS TO FOLLOW SHORTLY

Hardly any time to take a breather: In two days on Sunday 23 April, Leverkusen entertain DFB Cup winners RB Leipzig on Bundesliga matchday 29. The kick-off at the BayArena is at 17.30 CEST. That will be followed by a normal week of training. The Black and Reds are away to Union Berlin on Saturday 29 April. The kick-off at the An der Alten Försterei Stadium is at 15.30 CEST.

The Werkself play the semi-final first leg in the Europa League at in three weeks on Thursday 11 May. The second leg at the BayArena is a week later on Thursday 18 May (Kick-off: 21.00 CEST for both games). Moreover: The 6-2 win on penalties for Bayer 04 against Espanyol in the 1988 UEFA Cup final second leg in 1988 was also on 18 May...