Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand praised his team’s performance against Arsenal despite a late equaliser in their 1-1 Champions League first-leg draw.
Kasper Hjulmand praised Bayer Leverkusen for what he described as a “top performance” against Arsenal despite the frustration of conceding a late equaliser in their Champions League clash.
The two sides played out a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their round-of-16 tie, with Leverkusen initially taking the lead before Arsenal fought back late in the match to level the score.
Hjulmand admitted he had mixed emotions after the final whistle, explaining that while he was proud of his team’s display, the late goal left a sense of disappointment.
Leverkusen had taken the lead through Robert Andrich, who scored from a well-delivered corner. The German side remained organised throughout much of the match and limited Arsenal’s attacking opportunities.
However, Arsenal eventually found a way back when Kai Havertz converted a late penalty to ensure the tie remains evenly balanced ahead of the return leg.
Despite the setback, Hjulmand insisted his team would travel to London with confidence, suggesting that the pressure will be on Arsenal as the favourites to progress.
Young midfielder Christian Kofane also expressed optimism after the match, stating that competing strongly against one of the world’s best teams should give Leverkusen belief that they can still cause an upset in the second leg.
