Leverkusen exit Champions League but Kasper Hjulmand proud of team's progress

Leverkusen were beaten 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, with Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice scoring either side of halftime to send the Premier League side into the quarter-finals.

Reflecting on the performance, Hjulmand said his team made too many mistakes in possession, particularly during the first half.

"In the first half, we made too many mistakes in our build-up situations. Arsenal put a lot of pressure on us, but we didn't concede many big chances, just some set pieces, and then Eze scored this fantastic goal," he said.

The Danish coach, who took charge in September following a major squad overhaul, said the campaign represented significant progress for his side.

"I arrived in September and had 14 new players in the squad. We had a bit of a bumpy start and then we did some very good things. I think we've played better and better," he said.

Leverkusen recorded notable away wins against SL Benfica and Manchester City during the competition, and also beat Olympiacos in the knockout phase play-offs.

"I think we can be proud of how much we achieved in a build-up season like this," Hjulmand added.

"We also see there's a difference between us and the very best in Europe and we are aiming for that, so we can get back into this beautiful tournament and try to compete again. That's our focus."

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