"Getafe refused to accept a 1-0 defeat, they kept coming at us. They have terrific morale, and they ground out an equalizer," the German tactician was quoted saying on the club's website.

Substitute Cosmin Contra scored in the dying minutes to cancel out Luca Toni's first half header.

"We had glorious chances on the break but if you don’t get the second, you’re always going to come under pressure at the end."

Midfielder Mark Van Bommel fumed at his teammates' performance “You sensed an equalizer was coming. There was a huge hole in midfield when they scored."

"Our rearguard was lined up across the penalty area, and the rest of the players were up the other end.

That can’t be happening at that stage in a European tie. Obviously, we can’t be failing to take our chances like that. It would have been over if we’d made it 2-0."

The return leg will be played in Spain on April 10.