Bayer Leverkusen’s late win in Heidenheim pleased Xabi Alonso despite a poor performance.
| Xabi Alonso pleased with Leverkusen’s return to winning ways | Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images |
Another late strike – this time with Emi Buendia’s first goal for the club – helped Bayer Leverkusen to three points in Heidenheim. After the game, Xabi Alonso emphasized the importance of returning to winning ways.
“After Tuesday (cup exit), we wanted to celebrate something. And, we can now celebrate the three points,” said Alonso in his post-match press conference. “In our situation, it’s important to win today. And, sometimes, you can’t even ask how.
“Of course, I’m happy because of the result. Our game wasn’t the best, but we were in a tough spell both mentally and physically. We now need a bit of time to recover so that we can play better football. But, in the end, we want to win.”
Meanwhile, his Heidenheim counterpart praised his team’s spirit after a “cruel” ending for FCH. “It’s cruel and bitter. We defended brilliantly and created chances. Unfortunately, that can always happen in football, especially against Leverkusen,” reflected Frank Schmidt after the game.
