Xabi Alonso asked for more character and aggression from his Bayer Leverkusen side after their last-gasp 3-2 win over Borussia Monchengladbach in the Bundesliga opener.
Leverkusen were awarded a penalty deep into added time on Friday, with Florian Wirtz converting on the rebound to earn the visitors the three points.
Granit Xhaka lashed Leverkusen into the lead with a stunning strike in the 12th minute.
Wirtz extended Leverkusen's lead but Gladbach hit back through Nico Elvedi and Tim Kleindienst before the late drama.
"It was an intense first Bundesliga game for us. A lot of things happened in the second half, it was full of emotion right to the end. We did well in many phases," Alonso said.
"But we weren't always so compact today, we were also a bit passive in some phases. We have to do that better. We have to be more aggressive.
"It's difficult to explain why we always score late goals. We can't train that and I can't influence it. It's the mentality of the team."
Champions Leverkusen, who set a European record of 51 consecutive games without loss across all competitions last season, kept their unbeaten streak intact with a number of late equalisers.
"We said at half-time that we must not let up and not think that the game is over," said Xhaka.
"At the end of the first half, we started not being consistent enough in our passing game and losing easy balls. Here at home, Gladbach never die, you could see that in the goals at 1-2 and 2-2."
Wirtz became the fifth Leverkusen player to score in successive opening games of a Bundesliga season.
He added: "I had the feeling that we made it unnecessarily difficult for ourselves.
"We were asleep when it came to conceding goals. We let it slip away ourselves, even though we were actually in control, although we didn't have the ball the whole time.
"I just wanted to decide the game. I know that in the end it will be a lucky win. (But) we are happy that we won and that I was able to score the follow-up shot."
Juventus swoop for Fiorentina star Gonzalez
Juventus have confirmed the signing of winger Nicolas Gonzalez from Fiorentina in a reported €32 million move.
Gonzalez finished last season with 14 goal contributions in Serie A as Fiorentina finished eighth and reached the final of the Europa Conference League for the second year running.
The forward also helped Argentina win the Copa America in the off-season, and on Sunday, completed his switch to Turin.
Speaking of Gonzalez's addition, as well as the impending signing of Francisco Conceicao from Porto, new Juve boss Thiago Motta said: "They are strong players which is why they will come to our squad. Every player that arrives will give us a big hand to be competitive until the end.
"That is the case for those already here and those who will arrive."
Motta's team started their Serie A campaign with a 3-0 win over Cesc Fabregas' Como last week, and face Hellas Verona on Monday.
"We remain with our feet on the ground after the first day of the championship," Motta said on Sunday.
"Now we are on the second day, we face a team that is in good form after their victory against a team that is a serious candidate for the Scudetto.
"We played at home against Como, which was a good performance and a good result for us. Tomorrow I expect a different story and we have to be ready for everything.
"You look at it from the outside but from the inside my life is beautiful. I wake up early with great energy and enthusiasm to come to training.
"I find myself with fantastic people who have that same enthusiasm. I find myself with guys who arrive with a huge desire to improve."
Nottingham Forest bring in Porto defender Carmo
Nottingham Forest have completed the signing of David Carmo from Porto for £10m (€11.7m), with the defender going out on loan to Olympiacos for the season.
The Portuguese-born defender, who represents Angola at international level, spent the second half of last season in Athens.
Carmo joins on a five-year deal and is Forest's ninth signing of the summer transfer window.
He began his career at Braga before moving to Porto for €20m in the summer of 2022, but only managed 27 appearances before being loaned to Olympiacos, who are owned by Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis, in January.
Meanwhile, reports emerged on Sunday that Forest's move to sign Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah had broken down.
Nuno Espirito Santo's team are, however, rumoured to be in talks with Feyenoord over Mexico forward Santiago Gimenez, who scored 23 Eredivisie goals last term.
Liverpool still have a lot to prove, claims Slot after maiden Anfield win
Liverpool still have "a lot to prove" despite maintaining their strong start to the Premier League season, so says new boss Arne Slot.
Goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah in Sunday's 2-0 win over Brentford continued the Dutchman's perfect record as Reds head coach following their opening-day win over Ipswich Town last week.
Slot's side are yet to concede a goal this term, scoring four in return, as he became the first Liverpool boss since April 1991 to win his first two league matches in charge.
Yet Slot knows it is early days as he aims to walk in the shoes of the legendary Jurgen Klopp.
He told BBC Sport: "The fans loved to see the team playing really well but they also loved to see the team working very hard.
"I liked what I saw so if I like it then mostly the fans like it.
"Again we won against Ipswich, won against Brentford. Two good teams but I am not expecting them to be in the top six in the upcoming year so still a lot to prove for us in the upcoming weeks and months."
Liverpool were frustrated in their attempts to extend their lead against the Bees by visiting goalkeeper Mark Flekken, who made six saves, but Slot was quick to point out the defensive solidity shown by his team, who limited Brentford to just 0.36 expected goals (xG).
"Most importantly, we did not concede much," the former Feyenoord coach said.
"The only big chance we conceded was a set piece and that is always so difficult when you play Brentford. They can threaten in many ways but one is certainly set pieces, and we controlled that quite well apart from that one moment."
Slot also praised many of his players for returning from their holidays in fine physical condition, and he thinks that has been one of the main factors in Liverpool achieving two wins out of two so far.
"The players came back after three weeks of holiday and in most cases two weeks before the start of the games but they came back really strong physically", he said.
"Compliment to the players for how they came back and, like I have said, we haven't changed much compared to the former regime, so it is not so difficult for them to start playing again. That was a very positive thing."
Slot's biggest test as Liverpool coach comes next week, with the Reds heading to Old Trafford to face Manchester United.
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