“60 minutes is not enough to win a game at this level”

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso was disappointed with the way his side faded in the final half hour of Tuesday’s 4-0 defeat to Liverpool.

Bayer Leverkusen suffered a painful 4-0 defeat at the hands of Liverpool in Xabi Alonso’s return to Anfield on Tuesday night in the Champions League.

Leverkusen limited Liverpool to few chances until Luis Diaz’s opener, but after that the match was a different story.

Speaking in a post-match interview, Alonso expressed his disappointment at his side’s decline in the final half and hour.

“In the first half we were in the game, we had the ball and we had the chances. In the second half we had the ball less and we didn’t find our players.

“To win against top teams, you have to go through difficult moments and suffer. We have to learn to enjoy those moments and then strike,” he added.

“60 minutes is not enough to win a game at this level. We have to be there for 90, 95 minutes.”

He pointed out that, despite the defeat, he believes Leverkusen are in an acceptable position in the Champions League with seven points from four games.

“All in all, we’re in a good position with seven points and the games to come. We’re not happy today, but tomorrow we’ll think about the next game. And we have time to analyze the good and bad aspects of the match,” said Alonso.