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Saganowski sad as AaB stumble and crumble

Striker Marek Saganowski conceded that the error which handed Villarreal CF a 3-2 lead in Tuesday's UEFA Champions League game cost Aalborg BK "too much mentally" as they went on to lose 6-3 at the Madrigal Stadium.

Marek Saganowski in despair after the final whistle at El Madrigal
Marek Saganowski in despair after the final whistle at El Madrigal ©Getty Images

Game of two halves
The Polish striker lit up the first 45 minutes. Clever in possession, hard working and quick to think about what to do with the space he created by dropping deep and drawing defenders with him, Saganowski was magnificent. However, when Manuel Pellegrini's tactical instructions at half-time left him increasingly swamped by yellow jerseys and isolated from his support players, Saganowski's efficacy dropped a notch or two. His goal and assist were little comfort to the 29-year-old, who turns 30 next week. Instead, like so many before him, Saganowski was left to reflect on the tiny margin for error which exists at the highest level of European club football.

Turning point
"We had a good game plan, we played to it really effectively for 45 minutes and not many teams are going to come here and stick three goals past Villarreal [CF]," he began, "but we made mistakes and at this level of football you just can't do that and get away with it. We were 1-0 up, then 2-1 down but still equalised to make it 2-2 at the break. I think that showed not only that we were doing the right things, but that we had a degree of mental strength and faith in the coach's gameplan. Truthfully, we were good in that first half, but the moment where we had bad luck and committed a tiny error for the goal which made it 3-2 to Villarreal cost us too much mentally. Our goalkeeper, [Karim] Zaza, just let the ball bounce off him too much and when they tucked away the chance I think that was it for our belief that we could win."

Cruel competition
In fact, AaB were not quite finished and added a third goal to narrow the gap to 4-3 but by then Villarreal were in total control of the flow of the match and further goals for the men in yellow were almost inevitable. "In the second half they totally changed their attitude and played with real aggression," admitted Saganowski. "There was pressing in midfield. The little touches which I could do to team-mates in the first half were closed down and Villarreal played much better. But I emphasise again, if you make mistakes at this level then you'll be punished. What we take from the whole experience is that we are a good side, that we can score against anyone and when we play the next couple of matches we simply must cut out the errors."