Toppmöller hails the team ethic

Bayer 04 Leverkusen coach Klaus Toppmöller hailed his side's victory against RC Deportivo La Coruña as a triumph for good preparation and teamwork as the German club marched into the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League as winners of Group D. 

'We were well-prepared'
"I was impressed with Deportivo [earlier in the competition] - they have already beaten Juventus [FC], Arsenal [FC] and Manchester United [FC]," Toppmöller said "But we analysed videos and were well-prepared and geared up.”

Ballack the key
FC Bayern München-bound Michael Ballack was one of the key factors in Leverkusen's win. The German international scored one goal, created another and generally unsettled the Spanish side's defence with his late forward runs from midfield and willingness to shoot on sight. Ballack also tackled back with alacrity, if not always overwhelming success, conceding three fouls more borne out of over-enthusiasm than malice.

A team performance
Other Leverkusen heroes were Thomas Brdaric, who created one goal and hit the crossbar with a shot of his own, as well as deadly substitute Oliver Neuville who scored the side’s crucial third goal. However, Toppmöller was reluctant to pick out individual stars and instead stressed that it had been a team victory. "We looked for space, took advantage of our chances and played as a team," he said.

Huge achievement
The victory represents a huge achievement for Leverkusen, who are now in contention not only to win their first 1. Bundesliga crown but can also dream of a UEFA Champions League triumph to sit alongside their 1988 UEFA Cup victory. Toppmöller emphasised that the club will put everything into their attempt to secure glory on two fronts. "We are among the last eight sides in Europe," he said. "We have a strong desire to progress in this tournament. It's not important to me what the press say, the most important thing to me is the club. We will keep on striving for international recognition." Nevertheless, as an antidote to the euphoria running through his camp, the down-to-earth German did add with a smile: "From now on we have to concentrate on Saturday's [Bundesliga] game!"

'Third goal finished us off'
In contrast to Toppmöller, Deportivo coach Javier Irureta cut a rather disconsolate figure. His side are still in the hat for the quarter-finals, but having ceded top spot in Group D to their German visitors obviously did not please him. However Irureta brushed off suggestions that the eight changes he made to his side since last week's scintillating victory over Arsenal had been a contributory factor to the 3-1 defeat. "The players [I picked] were adequate," he said. "And they played well, especially in the first half. At 2-1 we could have stretched it out for a draw but the third goal finished us off."

Quarter-final possibilities
As group winners, Leverkusen now advance to the quarter-finals knowing that they will face either Liverpool FC, Panathinaikos FC or German rivals and European champions FC Bayern München for a place in the semi-finals. No easy task, but arguably a preferable mission to Deportivo's potential pairing with either Manchester United FC, FC Barcelona or Real Madrid CF. Nevertheless, Irureta claimed he did not mind which side Deportivo go on to face. "Against any of three we could get through," he said. "I don't really prefer one over the other. And past results have nothing to do with the future."