Football | Double champion Lukas Hradecký was able to end the season in a wonderful way – told about Xabi Alonso’s great gesture

Keeper Lukas Hradeckýn incredible season at Bayer Leverkusen was crowned late on Saturday night as Bayer Leverkusen beat Kaiserslautern 1-0 in the German Cup final. This is how Hradecký became a double winner in Germany.

Just a week ago, Leverkusen’s Finnish captain was able to lift the league’s championship plate into the air, and now he was able to wave the golden trophy towards the Berlin night sky.

“Both picking up the prizes felt equally great. If someone had said before the season that a double was coming, I would have thought he was talking about some sci-fi movie. Incredible feeling! And even more so in the role of captain,” said a happy Hradecký with the gold medal around his neck at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on Saturday.

In the cup final, Leverkusen was a clear favorite, as it was Kaiserslautern from the bottom tier of the 2nd Bundesliga.

The early favorites took the lead Granit Xhaka with a long shot in the 16th minute of the game. Just before Halftime, the defender of the factory team Odilon Kossounou however, got his second yellow card, and had to be sent off. Leverkusen had to play the entire second half with one man down.

“At the forty minute mark, the match definitely became more difficult. It was the first outing for us this season, a new situation, but we weren’t even startled,” Hradecký assessed.

“I think the team made good changes during the break. Fast Amine Adli came to the attack to run, to press. We tried to maintain ball control and eliminate dangerous situations. And there were a few counterattacks. I was a little bit expecting that the Lauternians would press us more, but we defended well, it was no big deal. There were a couple of long shots, but this was a well-deserved victory.”

The atmosphere in the final was particularly great – downright sensational. Both fans made a huge noise and performed spectacular choreography at the beginning of the match. In addition, rockets and flares flickered, especially at the end of Kaiserslautern. Sometimes rockets were fired minute by minute behind Hradecký’s back.

“The atmosphere was great. And I didn’t even mind the pyros, although they probably don’t belong on that scale. You have to understand the people of Kaiserslautern that such a final is a special occasion for them, and they enjoy it. However, the cloud of smoke disappeared pretty quickly and the game continued,” the Finnish goalkeeper said.

Really it was a surprise that Hradecký played in the cup final at all. He got an exceptional head coach From Xabi Alonso to the field of command, because usually the younger second guard Matěj Kovář has played the red and black cup matches.

“I was grateful to the coach that I could play. And even the first final without a comeback goal for me, that also feels good,” Hradecký said.

Last Wednesday, the Finn instead had to sit on the bench when Leverkusen played in the European League final in Dublin. The factory team unexpectedly lost the final match against the aggressive Atalanta Bergamo 3–0. It was the team’s only loss all season – the only game lost in 53 games on the season.

“So, where would you rather have taken that one loss? Now they remained unbeaten in the Bundesliga throughout the season, but missed one title. I would give us half a school grade for the season. Ten would have been an unbeatable triple. It’s a pity that that defeat came on Wednesday, but the feelings of disappointment were left in Dublin”, Hradecký thought.

The triple was not successful, but the double is also a historic achievement, Leverkusen’s first. Bayern Munich has several double championship seasons, but in Germany only FC Köln 1978, Werder Bremen 2004 and Borussia Dortmund 2012 have been able to do so.

“Double as a captain and even at this age. I believe I still have something to give at this level. It was great to wink at the doubters, if there are still any,” Hradecký threw in, and admitted that it’s still hard to even grasp the enormity of the achievement:

“We got the title of undefeated champion, and it will probably be remembered some day. Now I just try to live in the moment and enjoy every day. After all, this is an unforgettable year.”

Leverkusen a miraculous season, i.e. 53 matches, which included 43 wins, nine draws and only one loss, will go down in the history books. It is very difficult to repeat the same, but still Leverkusen wants even more.

“The pressure will increase with this season, of course. Next season there will be a tougher competition: the Champions League. Many people expect us to be among the best there too. The bar was set so high, so you have to live by it and try to continue this project. Hunger grows when you eat,” Hradecký said.

However, now is the time for celebration. On Saturday night, the people of Leverkusen will celebrate in the Berlin night, and on Sunday they will return to the banks of the Rhine in Leverkusen, where they will have a huge championship party with two glittering prizes.

“I don’t know where the journey is going today in Berlin, but let’s let the masses take us. And I’m looking forward to the party in Leverkusen even more. The streets will be full of people. However, I’m quite a pro when it comes to partying, so even if today takes a long time, I’ll have enough energy left in the battery for tomorrow,” promised Hradecký.

Team-mate Jonas Hofmann raised football magazine In Kicker Hradecky’s team’s best celebrant.

“Already after the Augsburg game a week ago, he pushed hard with his whole family. Finns do know how to party.”