Bayer Leverkusen forward Nathan Tella has expressed disappointment after the club’s 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich on Wednesday, which ended their hopes of reaching the DFB Cup final.

Tella, who has endured a difficult season due to injury setbacks, was named in the starting line-up but was replaced in the second half, with Montrell Culbreath coming on in his place.

Speaking after the game, Tella noted that a slow start proved costly, with his side struggling to impose themselves in the opening half.

"We know we played against maybe the best team in the world," Tella was quoted as saying by Kicker.

"As a team, we had the opportunity to get into the final, we wanted to do that and I think the first half we were a bit slow."

However, he highlighted a much-improved performance after the break, where they created more chances but ultimately failed to capitalize.

"But, the second half we had better performances and created more chances and ultimately it wasn’t enough today."

The result leaves a sense of disappointment within the squad, with Tella insisting there is a shared feeling that they let a major opportunity slip.

"There is no one in the team who would say anything different, we had the opportunity to get to the final."

"It is disappointing that we were unable to do it. But, we still have games in the league to push as high possible as we can and that’s where the focus now," he added. 

Despite the setback, Tella urged his teammates to quickly shift focus to their domestic campaign, where the race for European qualification remains firmly alive.

"Of course, it is still our goal. We want to play in the best competition in the world and play against the best teams in the world," he said. 

"It is down to us, we have to win these games and we have got the perfect opportunity on Saturday."

Tella also shed light on the tactical challenges posed by Bayern, particularly their dominance in possession and intensity off the ball. 

He explained that while the team prepared to press high and disrupt their rhythm, executing that plan on the pitch proved far more difficult.

"We knew that they were going to have a lot of possession. We wanted to try and regain the ball higher as much as we can. I think it was a bit difficult because of their rotation in the middle and their good teams.

"And even if we won the ball, we knew their counter-press was really good. As a team, we knew what to expect but it is difference when you are doing it in a meeting and playing a game."

Encouragingly, Tella pointed to the team’s second-half display as a positive to build on, although he lamented conceding a decisive goal late in the game.

"We can still be confidence because second-half we grew into the game and created more chances and disappointed to concede the first goal right at the end," he concluded. 

Tella has endured a difficult campaign, registering just four assists in 20 appearances across all competitions.

With four matches remaining in the season, Tella will be eager to rediscover his best form and help Bayer Leverkusen secure a European qualification spot.

Leverkusen currently sit sixth in the Bundesliga table with 52 points, four points less than Stuttgart, who occupy fourth place.

Adeyemi Adewale