Super Eagles winger Nathan Tella has credited Bayer Leverkusen teammates Victor Boniface and Patrik Schick for inspiring the movement that led to his winning goal against Bayern Munich.
Softfootball understand that Tella scored the decisive goal as Bayer Leverkusen edged Bayern Munich 1-0 in their DFB-Pokal clash on Tuesday night, heading home Álex Grimaldo’s cross in the 68th minute.
Speaking after the game, the Nigerian revealed that he modelled his positioning on Boniface and Schick, who have consistently impressed him with their movement inside the penalty area.
“I knew once Grimaldo had the ball wide, he was going to deliver into the box,” Tella told Bayer Leverkusen’s official website.
“I’ve watched Patrick and Victor a lot this season. They’re excellent at positioning between defenders and the post, so I thought if I got into the same position, I’d have a chance.
“Thankfully, the ball was perfect, and I managed to score.”
Bayern were reduced to 10 men early in the contest after goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was sent off, but Tella admitted the holders still posed a serious threat.
“It was a tough game, even with their red card. We had to stay mature and not get overly excited or rush to kill off the game,” he said.
They still created chances, but we stayed composed, and I’m glad I could help secure the win.
Having lifted the DFB-Pokal last season, Tella insisted Leverkusen are determined to defend their crown.
“We’re excited for the next round. We won this competition last year, and it’s ours to lose. We’ll stay motivated, focus on the next game, and keep building on this momentum,” the 25-year-old added.
