Football
Stephan Uersfeld, Germany correspondent 6y

Leon Bailey should have started for Bayer Leverkusen in DFB Pokal semifinal - agent

Bayer Leverkusen coach Heiko Herrlich has said he accepts criticism from Leon Bailey's agent that the winger should have started the DFB Pokal defeat to Bayern Munich.

Bailey became the first Jamaican to score in a DFB Pokal semifinal when he struck direct from a free kick in Tuesday's 6-2 defeat.

The 20-year-old had started on the bench and was brought on at half-time with Leverkusen 2-1 down.

Herrlich's decision not to start Bailey prompted an angry reaction from Craig Butler, his agent and stepfather.

"They put him on the bench. They put him on at left-back. They don't pass to him. The opponent double teams him. They kick him down," Butler wrote on Instagram. "What does he do? Gets up and put the free kick in the back of the damn net."

Herrlich has successfully used Bailey in a more defensive position out wide in his 3-4-3 formation this season.

And asked about Butler's criticism on Wednesday, the 46-year-old replied: "I accept his opinion, and that's about it."

Bailey is under contract at Leverkusen, who he joined from Genk last January, until 2022 and was linked with a move to Chelsea during the January window.

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