Bayer Leverkusen Set For Historic Treble, Says Xabi Alonso After Europa League Win

Bayer Leverkusen's head coach, Xabi Alonso, has confidently stated his team's ambition to secure all three major trophies this season, following their qualification for the Europa League final. This comes after Leverkusen clinched the Bundesliga title and set their sights on the DFB-Pokal final on May 25. Their journey to the Europa League final was solidified with a 4-2 aggregate win over Roma, marking a significant achievement as they extended their unbeaten streak across all competitions to 49 matches. This surpasses the record previously held by Benfica from 1963 to 1965.

Leverkusen's path to the final was not without its challenges. They faced a setback when Roma's Leandro Paredes scored twice from the penalty spot, nullifying Leverkusen's first-leg advantage. However, a decisive own goal by Gianluca Mancini and a last-minute goal by Josip Stanisic ensured their victory and progression. The final against Atalanta is scheduled for May 22 in Dublin, setting up a rigorous week with two finals for Leverkusen.

Alonso praised his team's resilience, especially after Roma's second goal, noting the determination in his players' eyes to push for more. "We still have the chance to win three titles, and my boys deserve all three titles," he remarked, highlighting the squad's ambition and drive.

Leverkusen's achievement of reaching a major European club competition final for the third time was noted by OptaFranz, marking a significant milestone in their history. The team previously reached the UEFA Cup final in 1987-88 and the UEFA Champions League final in 2001-02.

The dramatic nature of Leverkusen's qualification was underscored by Stanisic, who described his stoppage-time goal as one of the biggest moments of his career. "We knew what was at stake," he said, emphasizing the team's desire to reach the final and their joy in achieving it in such a thrilling manner.

On the other side, Roma's opportunity to make it to consecutive Europa League finals was dashed in the closing moments of the match. Roma's coach, Daniele De Rossi, expressed his disappointment, especially after managing to level the scoreline from a two-goal deficit. "It hurts to see us concede a goal like that," De Rossi lamented, reflecting on the narrow miss at another shot at European glory.

The success of German clubs in reaching both the Champions League and Europa League finals has been highlighted as a notable achievement. According to OptaFranz, this is the sixth instance of German clubs achieving this feat, with the last occurrence being in the 2001-02 season when Leverkusen and Dortmund made it to the finals of these prestigious competitions.

Leverkusen's journey this season has been nothing short of impressive, demonstrating not only their skill and determination on the pitch but also setting new records along the way. As they prepare for their upcoming finals, all eyes will be on whether they can convert their ambitions into tangible success by securing all three coveted titles.