Harry Kane expressed that Bayern Munich's players must seek to regroup and 'focus on ourselves' after enduring a comprehensive 3-0 defeat at the hands of Bundesliga title rivals Bayer Leverkusen.
The match presented a significant opportunity for the champions to narrow the gap on league leaders Leverkusen, but Xabi Alonso's side delivered the first blow with Josip Stanisic – presently on loan from Bayern – scoring in the 18th minute at a lively BayArena.
Alex Grimaldo found the net from a tight angle to double Leverkusen's advantage shortly after the break, and Jeremie Frimpong added the finishing touch at the end to condemn Bayern to their third loss of the campaign.
The outcome meant Leverkusen maintained their remarkable unbeaten record in the German top flight this season, and Alonso's men now enjoy a five-point lead over their rivals.
Kane scored his 24th league goal of the season in Bayern’s 3-1 win over Borussia Monchengladbach last weekend, but the England captain cut a frustrated figure for much of Saturday’s top-of-the-table encounter.
"We didn’t play well with the ball,’ the former Tottenham striker told Sky Sports shortly after the final whistle.
"I thought the pressure, especially in the first half and even in the second half, we pressed them well, but every time we won it back we gave it straight back to them. That allowed them to build momentum.
"In the final third we weren’t good in one-vs-one battles, we weren’t good in duels, the final delivery wasn’t there today, so a really disappointing day with the ball.
"We’re five points behind now but there are still a lot of games to go. This one hurts, we wanted a different outcome, but we have to focus on, first, the Champions League, and obviously the next game.
"There are a lot of games to be played and we have to try and make up as many points as we can, as quickly as we can."
Despite Leverkusen’s five-point advantage at the top of the Bundesliga, Kane refused to concede that Alonso’s side were now favourites for the title.
"That’s not for us to decide. That’s for everyone else to decide," he said.
‘For us, we have to focus on ourselves, we have to improve, we have to get better. We know that. The games are coming thick and fast so we have to turn it around quick."
The Three Lions skipper insisted Bayern’s decision to loan Stanisic to Leverkusen wasn’t the reason they lost the match.
"The club made a decision at the start of the season and it is what it is. He’s a good player and I trained a few times with him," he added.
"That wasn’t the reason we lost the game. We lost because we weren’t good enough on the ball."