Toppmöller in dreamland
Tuesday, April 30, 2002
Article summary
Bayer 04 Leverkusen coach Klaus Toppmöller was ecstatic after his side reached the final.
Article body
Bayer 04 Leverkusen coach Klaus Toppmöller watched his side reach their first UEFA Champions League final and said: "A dream has come true."
'Maximum level'
Leverkusen came from behind to draw 1-1 with Manchester United FC and progress to the Hampden Park final on away goals. Toppmöller, who jumped for joy at the final whistle, said: "Tonight we played at our maximum level, but as a coach I lived and died on that bench. By half-time all my players were tired - I told them to go out and fight and they did."
Neuville happy
Oliver Neuville, whose stunning goal deep into first-half injury time put Leverkusen back on course for the final after Roy Keane had put United into the lead, echoed his coach's sentiments. He said: "It's a dream to play in Glasgow and it's great I scored an important goal. We played very good football in an open, attacking style. I'm so happy."
'It's a sensation'
But it was Michael Ballack who summed up the mood of football fans across Europe. He said: "It's a sensation - all our friends in Germany are very proud."
United distraught
United manager Sir Alex Ferguson was understandably more subdued. He said: "We lost only two of 16 Champions League matches this season but now the tournament is over. All my players are distraught, especially Roy Keane. He played a great match, scored a great goal and is very, very disappointed."
Out for the final
Keane's solo finish on 28 minutes put him on the brink of his first Champions League final, he missed United's 1999 triumph through suspension, just as Leverkusen's Zé Roberto will do this year. The Brazilian was booked midway through the second half and will miss the competition's showpiece, against Real Madrid CF or FC Barcelona, through suspension. He admitted: "I'm very glad we reached the final but disappointed because I'll only be a spectator at Hampden Park."
Cheeky Toppmöller
But the final word fell to Toppmöller, who tempted fate by cheekily adding: "Now I can congratulate Real Madrid for their 100-year party in Glasgow." Barcelona may have something to say about that.
