"That's our mentality" - Bayer coach on late goal and reaching the UEFA Europa League semi-finals

Bayer Leverkusen has advanced to the UEFA Europa League semi-finals. They drew with West Ham, once again scoring in the dying minutes.

The head coach of the Pharmacists, Xabi Alonso, commented on the second-leg match. According to him, they anticipated such a game from their opponents. However, if the team aims to progress to the semi-finals, they must handle the difficult moments of the match.

"The ability to remain resilient in challenging moments was the key to our qualification. A late goal? That's our mentality, to believe until the last minute, but also to handle difficult situations and remain cohesive," said Alonso.

Additionally, he commented on the team's unbeaten record in the current season.

"It's evident that records are the result of good work. The most important thing was not just to extend the unbeaten streak, but to win the semi-final. However, the fact that this record remains untouched makes us even happier," added Alonso.

It's worth noting that Bayer extended their unbeaten streak to 44 consecutive matches in all competitions. The Leverkusen-based club became the first in the history of Europe's top leagues to go unbeaten in 44 consecutive matches across all competitions. Bayer has 38 victories and 6 draws to their credit.