Geoffrey Kondogbia has told BeIN SPORTS Monaco deserved their victory over Bayer Leverkusen as the Ligue 1 strugglers made the ideal start to their Champions League group-stage campaign.
Dominated in the first half by a Leverkusen side who created a clutch of excellent opportunities only to fail to finish them, Monaco seized the initiative in a much-improved second-half display thanks to Joao Moutinho's 61st-minute goal.
The Portugal international's strike proved enough to give Leonardo Jardim's men, who had won just once and suffered three defeats in five competitive outings this season, victory over the Bundesliga leaders at the Stade Louis II, and Kondogbia, 21, felt the result did not flatter the hosts.
"It's a deserved win. We knew it was going to be tough against a good team that is doing great things in its league right now," the former Sevilla midfielder, who was one of seven Champions League debutants in the Monaco line-up, said.
"We had the weapons to win it, and I'm happy we did. In the first half, they had quite a few chances, but it's true that we also had some. Overall, it's deserved.
"We're new in this competition, and that brought with it more alertness and thoroughness. You have to admit that. That was a good thing, and it was that that made the difference. We were thorough throughout the game."