Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso and one of his assistants were spotted reacting to the news that Roma had made it through against AC Milan last night.
Alonso’s Leverkusen qualified for the Europa League semi-finals by eliminating West Ham in the quarter-finals last night, winning 3-1 on aggregate, and they knew they would face the winner of the Milan-Roma tie.
At full-time as the staff made their way onto the pitch, one of Alonso’s collaborators could be seen checking his phone and relaying the news that Roma had gone through, which seemed to draw a celebratory reaction.
Daniele De Rossi was told in his post-match press conference that Leverkusen celebrated learning they would face Roma in the semi-finals, and he responded as follows.
“I haven’t seen it. I wouldn’t like to comment, maybe it’s just a sense of revenge because they went out against us last year. Xabi Alonso has always been a gentleman as a footballer and I think he is even today. I still have great respect for him.”