Reaction to Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern

FCBayernNews · News fetcher Joined: 31 Aug 2006 Posts: 1330 votes: 2

11.11.2006

Bayern showed the morale and desire they have so conspicuously lacked in recent displays to haul themselves back from the brink of disaster powering on to win 3-2 in Leverkusen on Saturday. The stirring finish prompted widespread satisfaction and relief in the Munich camp afterwards. "It was obvious we were all under immense pressure," coach Felix Magath declared after the final whistle at the BayArena.

Reaction to Bayer Leverkusen v Bayern:

Felix Magath: "We dominated the first half, but a top-class team like Bayer Leverkusen were always going to show what they could do in the second half. We were unlucky to concede the equaliser two minutes after half-time, and we were under pressure. But we showed real class in coming from behind and turning a potential defeat into a victory. We were in a tough situation. It was obvious we were all under immense pressure. Your confidence is shaken by a defeat and a poor display like the one against Hanover in midweek. We had to go out there today and restore our belief, but this victory is a huge boost to our confidence. We're back on course to becoming the Bayern of old."

Claudio Pizarro: "We tried to keep it tight from the start, but we relaxed too much after taking the lead and let in two goals. But we kept on battling away, and at the end of the day, we've won the match. That's an important win. Bremen lost yesterday, so it's great we've won today."

Philipp Lahm: "Winning is the best possible birthday present. Obviously you couldn't have predicted we'd win in that fashion, but I'm just overjoyed. I'm specially pleased Micho [Demichelis] scored, because he took a lot of flak in midweek, and I think it got to him a bit. But today's performance showed his character. Football's often not as easy as it looks. We had the better of the chances throughout, but then we've let in two silly goals."

Roy Makaay: "We were totally in control before half-time, we shut them out in front of goal, but then we've let one in with the second half only a couple of minutes old. I don't know what happened after that. We only got our act together when they went 2-1 up, there was only one team in it afterwards, and we deserved the goals to make it 3-2. Bremen were kind enough to lose yesterday, and we've taken three points here, so we're right back in it. We didn't play well in the first 20 minutes of the second half, but the first half and the last 20 minutes were great. The job now is to fix those poor 20 minutes. That's three immensely important points for us."

Carsten Ramelow (Leverkusen captain): "I'm gutted, because I thought we played extremely well against Bayern. We were a little sluggish before half-time, but in the second half we were a lot better and looked dangerous going forward. We turned the game round, but then we threw it away in the space of three terrible minutes. Obviously that was a shock and hurt us. Bayern really showed all their class in the three minutes when we went missing, so you've got to be angry. It was a great game for the crowd, but a bitter end for us."

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