Alonso feels pride and pain after ‘Neverlusen’ finally lose

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said his side will over time look back with pride on their European record unbeaten run but must use the pain of Wednesday’s Europa League final defeat to spur them on for another final in three days time.

Leverkusen – or ‘Neverlusen’ as they had been dubbed after obliterating Bayern Munich’s 11-year Bundesliga title monopoly in Germany – can still win a domestic double with victory against second-tier Kaiserslautern in Saturday’s German Cup final.