Heynckes: “I’m pleased with my players’ attitude”
“We knew that Atlético was a strong team and would try to win until the end”
The manager of Bayer Leverkusen, Jupp Heynckes, appeared at his post-match press conference after his team drew against Atlético de Madrid and said that “we were very good in the first half, the team was very well-organized and played well. At the half, I told my players that they’d see a different Atlético side in the second half. I told them that they would be more aggressive and push harder in the second half and that’s what happened.
“I think that the key to the match was the penalty called on us. That’s another thing that I told my players at halftime; that we couldn’t commit fouls at the top of the area or inside it,” he assured.
To finish, the head coach highlighted that “we knew that Atlético de Madrid was a great team; last year they won the Europa League. My players tried their best until the end. Those who played did so at a high level and I’m not thinking about the possibility that we could have earned the three points; we got one and we’ll continue fighting to qualify for the next round.”
“I think that the key to the match was the penalty called on us. That’s another thing that I told my players at halftime; that we couldn’t commit fouls at the top of the area or inside it,” he assured.
To finish, the head coach highlighted that “we knew that Atlético de Madrid was a great team; last year they won the Europa League. My players tried their best until the end. Those who played did so at a high level and I’m not thinking about the possibility that we could have earned the three points; we got one and we’ll continue fighting to qualify for the next round.”
