Super Eagles attacker Nathan Tella has expressed his satisfaction following Bayer Leverkusen’s commanding 4-1 victory over RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga on Saturday, Soccernet.ng reports.
Bayer Leverkusen are currently locked in a fierce battle to secure Champions League football for next season. They took a significant step toward that goal at the BayArena by defeating fellow top-four contenders RB Leipzig.
Tella produced one of his finest performances in a Leverkusen shirt. The Nigerian international provided the assist for Patrik Schick’s 25th-minute opener before doubling the lead himself in the 45th minute, ensuring Die Werkself went into the break in total control.
Nathan Tella celebrates with Ibrahim Maza for Bayer Leverkusen. (Photo by: Imago)
Tella featured for 77 minutes and was rated a 9.2 by Sofascore before being replaced by Ernest Poku.
Speaking after the final whistle, the 26-year-old reflected on the result and his unselfish assist to Schick. Despite being in a favorable position to shoot, Tella opted to square the ball to the Czech striker.
”Yeah, it’s a good start to the weekend. As a team, we knew what we wanted to achieve, and the Champions League is the ultimate ambition for us,” Tella said.
”With Stuttgart and Hoffenheim in the mix, we knew that winning today would put our destiny in our own hands. We have three games we need to win; we’ve won the first one today, and now we have to keep going like this.”
Robert Andrich, Patrik Schick, And Nathan Tella. Copyright: ImagoHMBxMedia/xMarcoxBader
Reflecting on his decision to pass to Schick, he joked: “I had flashbacks to a time I didn't pass to Patrik, and I could just imagine him screaming at me at halftime! So I saw him in the six-yard box and knew he couldn't miss. When you have a striker like that, you just put it anywhere in the box and he’s going to score. It’s a pleasure to play with him.”
Nathan Tella Urges Teammates on For The Final Push
The win propelled Bayer Leverkusen to fourth in the Bundesliga standings, currently separated from Stuttgart and Hoffenheim only by a superior goal difference.
Montrell Culbreath, Edmond Tapsobsa Leverkusen, Robert Andrich Leverkusen, Nathan Tella. (Photo by Imago)
With the season reaching its climax, Leverkusen’s fate remains in their own hands. Maximum points from their remaining fixtures will guarantee them a place among Europe’s elite next season. Ahead of their final matches against Stuttgart and Hamburger SV, Tella urged his teammates to maintain their momentum.
”Next week, we have to bring that same energy. We can't afford to relax now. This is the business end of the season—this is when you have to perform,” he added.
Tella has now recorded three goal involvements in his last three outings for Bayer Leverkusen. He will be vital in the final weeks as the club looks to cross the finish line and secure their European target.
Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, Sportpremi, and a few others.
Away from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.
