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After the equalizer in extra time, the “ESPN FC” team tries to get an idea of Bayer Leverkusen’s crazy season. (1:52)
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso says his team deserves the three titles they have won this season after qualifying for the Europa League final by beating AS Roma on Thursday.
In addition, the Spanish coach added, his team looked like an organization that was looking for more than a historic season.
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Bundesliga champions Leverkusen, who also reached the German Cup final on May 25, played their 49th unbeaten game in all competitions, surpassing Benfica’s European record set between 1963 and 1965.
They took that step after a late comeback from a two-goal lead to secure a 2-2 draw at home to Roma, securing their position in the May 22 final in Dublin with a 4-2 aggregate.
“As a result, we will play two finals in one week,” Alonso said. “We showed a lot of character after his second goal. Then I looked my players in the eye and saw that they were looking for more.
“We still have to win 3 titles. And my guys deserve the 3 titles. “
Leverkusen had a bit when Roma defender Gianluca Mancini deflected the ball into his own net in the 82nd minute.
Substitute Josip Stanisic scored the equaliser just before the final whistle to send Leverkusen into the record books and said it as one of the most important moments of his career.
“Definitely one of them. We knew what was at stake, we were looking to go through to the final and I think that showed today during the 90 minutes,” said Croatian foreigner Stanisic.
“I don’t think it would have been different if we had lost and taken a step forward because we were looking to go through to the final, but it’s even better that way. “
Team captain Granit Xhaka, who scored a fine goal in Leverkusen’s crushing win over Eintracht Frankfurt to extend the unbeaten run to 48 on Sunday, described the post-match feeling as more than just emotional.
“It’s natural goosebumps!” Xhaka told German broadcaster RTL: “You dream of an environment like that. You dream of games like this. When you’re a kid, you need to be in those games and then when you tie right before the end and you get to the final, it’s amazing. “
For Roma, the chance of qualifying for a second successive Europa League final after last season’s penalty shootout loss to Sevilla faded in the final minutes of the match.
“When you manage to come back from a 2-0 draw and reach the miracle, knowing that no one has ever beaten them this season, it hurts to see us concede a goal like that. It hurts,” Roma coach Daniele De Rossi said.
Information from Reuters and Associated Press used in this story.