The Bayer team leader decimates his teammate's unity or cohesion.
In their 100th match led by Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen appeared set for a celebration following eight minutes. Yet, the esteemed German football titans inadvertently gifted victory to the newly-promoted Holstein Kiel. Lukas Hradecky, Leverkusen's captain, was enraged.
Hradecky was on the brink of losing composure due to the uncalled-for draw against the determined underdogs. He criticized the team's lack of the ruthless mentality that had earned them the double the year prior: "We were champions because we attacked each game as if our lives depended on it. I didn't see that relentless determination to end the game tonight."
Instead, Hradecky claimed, "we inadvertently let the opponent survive," following the 2:2 (2:1) draw. He attributed the undeserved point to a lack of "pressure and viciousness" that Kiel deserved. Alonso, whose jubilee game ended in defeat, retreated to the dressing room after the final whistle.
Leverkusen had much to discuss: After taking an early 2:0 lead through Victor Boniface (4') and Jonas Hofmann (8'), Leverkusen essentially took a break, and their mistake was duly punished by Max Geschwill (45+5) before the half-time break. Fiete Arp (69', penalty) turned the game on its head and delivered the upset. Bayern Munich had the chance to extend their lead over Leverkusen to five points on Sunday against Eintracht Frankfurt.
"The victory came too easily, too fast. You can't relinquish a 2:0 lead, no matter who it's against," Hradecky said. Porath, Kiel's Finnish player, praised his team's attitude: "Matches such as these demonstrate that we're always in contention for points. This should boost our confidence in the coming weeks."
Kiel Fans' ridicule
The draw was hailed as a victory on the pitch by Kiel, along with their fans who mercilessly derided Leverkusen: "And you aspire to be German champions?" the sarcastic Kiel supporters sang.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen's midfield captain Granit Xhaka had urged for full concentration in the league after impressive performances against Bayern Munich (1:1) and AC Milan (1:0). Initially, it seemed his words had been heeded, with Leverkusen scoring twice early on. Alonso had reason to smile, but Leverkusen's third goal by Boniface was disallowed for offside (26').
Kiel found it difficult to penetrate beyond halfway, but as Leverkusen relaxed and made several gaffes, Kiel emerged from the shadows almost unexpectedly. Geschwill headed in from a corner just before half-time.
Leverkusen responded sluggishly, and Kiel gained confidence. Tapsoba made a last-ditch tackle to halt Benedikt Pichler's counter (67'). Leverkusen controlled the game but created few clear chances. Arp capitalized on their sloppiness following Jeremie Frimpong fouling Armin Gigovic in the box.
Hradecky expressed his disappointment after the draw, stating, "We should have maintained our pressure and ruthless mentality, especially in a crucial Football league match against Holstein Kiel." The draw resulted in a missed opportunity for Leverkusen to extend their lead over Bayern Munich in the Football league.
The draw also attracted criticism from Leverkusen's fans, with the Kiel supporters taunting them, saying, "And you aspire to be German champions?" highlighting their disappointment with Leverkusen's performance in the Football league.
