The Bundesliga champions extended their unbeaten run to a European record 49th match in all competitions by scoring a late equaliser against Roma in the 2-2 draw (winning 4-2 on aggregate) in the semi-final second leg on Thursday (09.05.24) and the coach who hopes his team cap a remarkable campaign by adding the Europa League and German Cup to their league title.

Alonso said: "We'll play two finals in a week as a result. We showed great character today after their second goal. I looked my players in the eye afterwards and saw that they wanted more.

"We still have the chance to win three titles. And my boys deserve all three titles."

Josip Stanisic scored the goal to keep Leverkusen's record going and described it as amongst the most important moments of his career.

He said: "Definitely one of them. We knew what was at stake, we really wanted to get to the final and I think you could see that over 90 minutes today.

"I don't think we would have cared in the end if we lost and still progressed because we really wanted to get to the final, but it's even nicer this way."

Leverkusen captain Granit Xhaka was also overcome with emotion as the astonishing story continued.

He told RTL: "It's pure goosebumps! You dream of an atmosphere like this. You dream of games like this. As a kid, you want to be in these games and then when you equalize just before the end and get to the final, it's incredible."