“We feel great pain” – Hjulmand reacts to Leverkusen’s heavy defeat to PSG

Kasper Hjulmand said Bayer Leverkusen were “hurt” after their 2-7 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Bayer Leverkusen suffered their first defeat under Kasper Hjulmand on Tuesday, falling 2-7 at home to defending Champions League winners Paris Saint-Germain.

Speaking to reporters after the game (as quoted by Bild), Hjulmand said there was understandably a great sense of disappointment in the dressing room.

“We feel great pain in our bodies. We are hurt. But we have to shake it off and look forward. We were too open and thought too much offensively – without balance,” said Hjulmand.

“I would have liked to go into the dressing room at 1-1 and then make changes. But in the seven minutes before halftime, in a new structure, we lost the game. At 1-4 it was game over.”

The Danish coach said that Robert Andrich’s red card in the 32nd minute “of course changed some things in the game.”

“Of course, it wasn’t a good decision. We will talk about it tomorrow,” he emphasised.

Hjulmand also showed appreciation for the home fans:

“I felt their support. They helped us, and I am grateful for that. Great respect for how they treated the team. I really hope – and I believe it – that on Sunday we have to give something back to the fans. We have something to prove. We will strike back.”

Leverkusen will now face Freiburg on Sunday.