Uncertainty turned to pride.
After the 2-0 (0-0) coup in the Champions League over Atlético Madrid, the frustration that Leverkusen had built up in the past few weeks seemed to have suddenly disappeared.
The fact that the best performance of the season so far was achieved against what is perhaps the strongest opponent was seen by everyone involved as an indication of a trend reversal.
“We did outstandingly.
I'm extremely proud of the team," enthused defender Jonathan Tah. "It gives me a lot of energy."
Unlike in the past few weeks with the early end of the DFB Cup, the crash to the penultimate place in the Bundesliga table and the false start in the premier class in Bruges (0: 1), the team impressed coach Gerardo Seoane with consistent duels and more Effectiveness in front of goal - so virtues that usually distinguish the opponent from Madrid.
"That's really good for us," commented goal scorer Robert Andrich (84th minute).
Similarly euphoric, Moussa Diaby, who had completed a respectable counterattack to make it 2-0 (87th), reviewed the astonishingly calm performance of the team, which had been faltering in the weeks before: "That was a great victory."
The home win saw Leverkusen move past favorites Atlético in Group B and move into second place behind surprise Bruges, who won 4-0 at previously pointless FC Porto.
Another success on October 4th at the bottom of the table from Portugal would further improve the starting position in the fight for the round of 16.
After the courageous appearance against Atlético, criticism of Seoane should fall silent for the time being.
"I hope that the energy will carry us over the next few days," said the coach with a view to the upcoming important Bundesliga game on Saturday (3.30 p.m. in the FAZ live ticker for the Bundesliga and on Sky) at the same site against Werder Bremen.