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Toppmöller predicts bright future

Bayer 04 Leverkusen coach Klaus Toppmöller is looking forward to the next stage of the competition.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen Klaus Toppmöller admitted that he was looking forward to the next stage of the UEFA Champions League after his side secured qualification from Group F with a 2-0 win over Olympiakos Piraeus FC.

Anything possible
Despite group rivals Maccabi Haifa FC's 3-0 victory over Manchester United, the German side's two victories over the Israeli outfit makes the visit to Old Trafford no more than academic interest. Toppmöller, who had a first-half strike from Jaun and a last-minute penalty from Bernd Schneider to thank for the win, said: "If we get all our players fit for the New Year then I am sure we will be able to cause a few upsets. Last season nobody had us down and we made it to the final. It just goes to show that in football anything is possible."

'Happy and proud'
Toppmöller singled out, in particular, the commitment shown by his players who had started the group with two defeats including a 6-2 mauling in Greece. He said: "I am happy and proud that we were able to repay the trust that the whole club put in us. It is a huge success for the team to be part of the best 16 teams in Europe two years running.

Butt under-employed
Toppmöller added: "Hans-Jörg Butt [Leverkusen goalkeeper] could have brought a chair along with him today because my boys didn't give Olympiakos a sniff of a chance. We were very aggressive and showed our technical skill as well. Before the match I promised that the team would be on fire and it makes me proud that the players lived up to my words."

New Juan blow
The only dark cloud for Leverkusen was another injury to goal-hero Juan who limped out with a thigh injury just before half-time, leaving Toppmöller to lament his player's continued bad luck. He said: "It makes me sick that we simply can't shake our injury jinx at the moment. It looks as if Juan could be out for some time. He is so important for us because he can read a game, pass the ball, is excellent in the air, can shoot and goes forward at the right time."

Kollias to bow out
Disappointed Olympiakos caretaker coach Yiannis Kollias admitted that his side's exit from the competition would signal the end of his time in charge at the club. He said: "It was clear from day one that I wouldn't be in charge for the rest of the season. My players fought hard today but the forwards didn't get the kind of balls you need to score goals. If you don't put your opponent under pressure they have a habit of scoring and that is exactly what happened."

'Two faces'
He added: "We saw an Olympiakos side with two faces today. In the first half we closed Leverkusen down really well and they hardly had a chance. The got their goal out of nowhere. After the break we tried to attack a lot more and Leverkusen were able to create more chances."