Jarrell Quansah has urged his Bayer Leverkusen teammates to maintain their momentum as they strive for a spot in the Champions League knockout rounds. Leverkusen currently holds the 20th position after a hard-fought 2-2 draw against Newcastle United on Wednesday. Alejandro Grimaldo emerged as the hero for the hosts, netting an equaliser in the 88th minute at BayArena.
Leverkusen is set to face Olympiacos and Villarreal in their last two league-phase matches. Teams ranked from ninth to 24th will advance to the knockout play-offs. Quansah remains cautious, emphasising that no match in the Champions League can be deemed easy. "We can't afford to let off in our final two games," he stated, as reported by UEFA.
The England international highlighted
the importance of securing points to finish in a strong position. "We need to get our points so we can finish in as strong a position as possible," Quansah added. His words reflect the team's determination to advance further in the competition.
AG20. 90' | 2-2 | #B04NEW #UCL pic.twitter.com/zsoPGOaRT6
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) December 10, 2025
Kasper Hjulmand, Leverkusen's head coach, was absent from the touchline at BayArena due to personal reasons. In his place, assistant coach Rogier Meijer took charge. Reflecting on the match against Newcastle, Meijer remarked, "It was an intense game. Against Newcastle, you can always expect an intense game. "
Meijer praised his team's resilience despite conceding a late equaliser. "I think we showed character," he said. Although they aimed for a win after making it 2-2, they couldn't secure it. The team demonstrated determination and fought hard until the end.
