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Ballack hails mighty Leverkusen

Michael Ballack believes that Bayer 04 Leverkusen are a major force in Europe after their 4-2 win against Liverpool FC.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen Michael Ballack believes that his side have announced themselves as a major force in Europe after their 4-2 win against Liverpool FC.

Irresistible performance
The German international midfield player scored twice as Leverkusen overwhelmed Liverpool in the second leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final tie at the BayArena to earn a place in the semi-finals in sensational style. "It was a perfect game for all of the fans at the BayArena," said Ballack. "All of the players put up an incredible fight and now we are a great team in Europe."

Inspired substitution
A late goal from Brazilian midfielder Lucio saw Leverkusen take the lead for the second and final time in a pulsating tie and remove any lingering memories of their 1-0 defeat in the first leg at Anfield. Klaus Toppmöller's side overwhelmed Liverpool with a devastating display of pacy, passing football, but it was not until the coach made an inspired double substitution at half-time that Leverkusen finally confirmed their ascendancy.

'The result was two goals'
"The first half was a very good game from both teams," said Toppmöller. "After half-time I brought on Oliver Neuville and Dimitar Berbatov hoping that these two forwards would make the game faster. The result was two goals." With Liverpool leading overall at the break after Abel Xavier's header had cancelled out Ballack's sensational 15th-minute drive, two goals in four minutes from Ballack and Dimitar Berbatov turned the game in Leverkusen's favour.

Houllier's false hopes
However, Jari Litmanen's goal on 79 minutes seemed to have gifted the tie to Liverpool again, and Liverpool manager Gérard Houllier was certainly anticipating an unlikely victory. "As Litmanen scored I thought we were in the semi-final but Leverkusen fought back," said the Frenchman. However, his opposite number - and more importantly the Leverkusen players - were not about to give up. "Even when Litmanen scored I knew that we would score again," said Toppmöller."

'I am very proud'
Even after seeing his side's incredible defensive record torn apart at the BayArena, and watching strikers Michael Owen and Emile Heskey miss a number of chances which could have sealed victory, Houllier still praised his players. "We have played 17 games in Europe since the UEFA Super Cup final and throughout qualification we only lost two in Barcelona and Leverkusen," said the manager. "I am very proud of my players.

'We had chances'
"We had chances tonight in Leverkusen but we did not take them," he added. "Many thanks to the fans of Liverpool who supported the team very well and special thanks to Emile Heskey who was in Antigua until Sunday mourning his grandmother's death."

'The game of my life'
However, while Houllier was wondering what could have been, the Leverkusen players were revelling in the moment and pondering what may yet be to come in their Champions League campaign. "This was the game of my life," said striker Thomas Brdaric. "It was full of drama and I am absolutely overjoyed to have reached the semi-finals. In the second half we showed incredible character and determination and we won."

'A sensation'
"This game tonight was one of the best in my career," added goalkeeper Hans-Jörg Butt. "It is a sensation to score four goals against Liverpool. We continued to grow in stature as the game went on and I'm very happy that we won." 

Next stop Glasgow
Leverkusen will now face the winners of Wednesday night's quarter-final tie between Manchester United FC and RC Deportivo La Coruña, but despite the obstacles in his side's way, Leverkusen's goalkeeper is dreaming of the biggest prize in European football. "Now we want to go to Glasgow," said Butt.

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