Some people said before the Europa League game at AS Monaco that Leverkusen shouldn’t go to the penalty shoot-out. After all, almost everything went wrong in the end. But the curse is banned.
At the end of 120 minutes of emotional ups and downs and physical high tension, the pros from Bayer Leverkusen were where they certainly didn’t want to be. It was a running gag in the area: Just don’t get into the penalty shootout.
But that’s how it happened, after the 3-2 after extra time at AS Monaco, who in turn had won 3-2 in Leverkusen. “We stood there in a circle and were all screwed,” said midfielder Robert Andrich: “But we’ve all joined forces again. The coach announced the shooters. And everyone said straight away: Okay, we’ll shoot.”
Bayer had missed seven of the last eight penalties in all competitions, by four different shooters. But that evening, full of adrenaline and with heavy legs, it turned completely. The curse has been lifted. At the best possible moment, on penalties in a Europa League knockout game. The team is now in the round of 16.
No Bayer miss
“Well, I didn’t expect all five of us to go in,” admitted national player Florian Wirtz, who was no longer on the pitch when the shoot-out took place, “because from the end of regular time after every sprint I’ve had cramps in both calves and both thighs had”. In fact, all five of Leverkusen’s scored from the spot, and one miss by Monaco’s Eliot Matazo was enough to qualify for the round of 16.
“Penalties haven’t been good lately. Today they were great,” said coach Xabi Alonso, who said he wasn’t worried: “I wasn’t nervous, I had faith. They all stayed cool. But that was it not only with the penalties, but also the whole game beforehand.”
Source: Stern
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