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6 months ago
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A few days after having defeated Bayern Munich in front of their home crowd and at the end of another weekend where they had won painfully against the promoted Heidenheim, Bayer Leverkusen had to avoid the Mainz trap and continue on their nice launch. If the Rhineland-Palatinate team, fighting for its survival at the end of the season, gave its opponent a hard time, the hierarchy was ultimately respected. Thanks to goals from Granit Xhaka and Robert Andrich in the second half, Bayer Leverkusen won by a short header (2-1) at the opening of the 23rd day of the Bundesliga. With this new victory, the third in a row, the team led by the talented Xabi Alonso is at the top of the German championship and temporarily relegates its runner-up (namely Bayern Munich) to eleven lengths.
Above all, the Spanish technician’s flock established a new record series for a German club of 33 consecutive games without defeat, thus improving the record held by Hansi Flick’s Bayern Munich. During the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 seasons, the Rekordmeister went on to play 32 matches without experiencing the slightest defeat while achieving the historic quadruple Bundesliga – German Cup – Champions League – European Super Cup. Well on its way to the end, it seems difficult to imagine the B04 formation collapsing like a house of cards as it literally rolls over all of its competitors across the Rhine. But not only. Still in the running in the Europa League, Bayer Leverkusen is preparing to play a round of 16 against FK Qarabag after finishing in first place in group H (ahead of the so-called Azerbaijani team), while winning all of its matches (i.e. 6/6) and scoring no less than 19 goals (for 3 small pawns conceded).
A more than convincing debut with Bayer Leverkusen!
If Bayer Leverkusen is currently treading water, whether nationally or continentally, who would have bet a kopeck on such a success just a year ago? Above all, who would have thought that a certain Xabi Alonso, who had already demonstrated the extent of his talent as a player, would manage to build a solid reputation as a leader of men and a fine tactician barely past his forties? Before the native of Tolosa was inducted at the head of the B04, the German club was on the verge of sinking. Having one of its worst starts to a season in its history, the East German team was dangerously flirting with the relegation zone. Yet another match against FC Porto in the Champions League one evening on October 4, 2022 got the better of Gerardo Seoane. Eliminated in the first round of the German Cup and on the street in the championship (17th), the Spanish-Swiss coach was finally dismissed. From then on, the management of Bayer Leverkusen placed its hopes in the hands of Xabi Alonso. Swapping his footballer’s costume for that of a coach at the end of the 2014 World Cup where the Spanish selection, reigning champion, had been ousted in the group stage, the Iberian had only a simple role in the orders for the youth of Real Madrid as well as three years of experience on the reserve bench of Real Sociedad, his training club.
Called to play firefighter on duty and determined to break into the industry, Xabi Alonso rolled up his sleeves and gradually managed to impose his influence. Follower of a style of play focused forward and rejecting the idea of basing himself essentially on possession of the ball like the tiki-taka which greatly contributed to the fame of his compatriot Pep Guardiola at FC Barcelona in At the turn of the 2010s, the former Spanish international completed his first exercise in Germany. Better yet, he allowed his team to gradually move up the rankings in order to secure a 6th place, synonymous with qualification for a European Cup, before signing a new lease binding it until June 2026 with the B04. “I am very grateful for the trust that Bayer 04 has placed in me. The fact that we are convinced of the same idea and the same direction in the strictly sporting sense ensures great proximity and trust between the club managers and me. This is another reason why I really enjoy my job with my staff and everyone at the club. I see the past season as positive. But I want more, and so does the club. We are now working on it with determination”expressed the 2010 world champion at the time of signing his new contract.
2023-2024, the season of confirmation for Xabi Alonso
Reappointed at the head of the Werkself, Xabi Alonso started again with his feet on the floor. Determined to put an end to the supremacy of Bayern Munich across the Rhine, the 42-year-old coach was putting together a solid squad, capable of competing on all fronts. Thus, the B04 achieved an attractive summer transfer window by enlisting experienced players (Alejandro Grimaldo, Granit Xhaka, Jonas Hoffmann) and betting on youth (Nathan Tella, Victor Boniface) while managing to retain most of its nuggets , like Florian Wirtz or Jeremie Frimpong. Strong and profitable choices given the statistics displayed by his protégés this season. As an example, we can cite the case of the Nigerian striker, revealed under the colors of Union Saint-Gilloise and who adapted very quickly to his new working environment, to the point that he counts 10 goals alone (and 7 assists) in the league. Same story with Alejandro Grimaldo, unbreakable in his left lane and author of remarkable performances since his arrival from Benfica Lisbon this summer.
What also contributes to his reputation across the Rhine is his ability to allow his men great freedom. “On the pitch, I was encouraged to make my own decisions. This is something I really want to push and remind players of. They are not robots. They have the knowledge of what can happen, with their qualities to decide. And if they make the wrong choice, we will try to do better.”he detailed during an interview with AFP during the international break in November 2023. Combining quality with quantity and with a system structured in 3-4-3 (more precisely in 3 -4-2-1) which works wonderfully, Xabi Alonso and his flock now hope to continue their momentum in order to get rid of once and for all the “Neverkusen” which has stuck with him since the beginning of the 21st century. “I don’t worry about records before they come but once they come I’m very proud. I never tire of congratulating my players. The effort they put in, the commitment they have every week, it’s so easy to work with them. It’s a pleasure to work with them. I learn so much from every practice, from every game. It’s great that we’ve reached this level. We don’t get medals for that, but that doesn’t matter. The process is pleasant to follow. We started in July with this group so let’s see how far we can go, but we don’t want to stop.”conceded Xabi Alonso after the victory in Mainz this Friday.
Can he resist forever the call of European leaders?
A popular trainer combining the beautiful game and piling up good results with the German team, Xabi Alonso is whetting the appetite of European leaders. And for good reason, at a time when the waltz of coaches touches the four corners of the old continent, the Spaniard constantly acts as the favorite to succeed a fallen coach or a technician whose departure has been recorded at the end of the season. This was the case with FC Barcelona in January where, following on from the announcement of Xavi, who after a major disappointment against Villarreal in La Liga decided to give up his apron in June, the name of insistence in Catalonia. A similar case occurred at the end of January in England when Jürgen Klopp surprised everyone by announcing his departure from Liverpool after nine years of good and loyal service. Immediately, Xabi Alonso, former midfielder of the Mersey club, was announced as the German’s potential successor.
Recently, it was Bayern Munich who were seduced by the Spanish coach. In the midst of a sporting crisis, the reigning German champion is considering him to replace Thomas Tuchel, whose transplant has never really taken hold with the Bavarian club and who will also leave next June. Logically questioned about the rumors linking him to an arrival in Bavaria this summer, the main person concerned did not wish to comment on this subject on the sidelines of the confrontation against Mainz. “Right now I’m the coach of Bayer Leverkusen and that’s for sure. Regarding the future, I have nothing new to say. A call received from Bayern? Once again, this is only hypothetical: I have nothing new to say. It is not a problem for me. I know my goal is to succeed with this team. It’s my job. We are in a very good situation at the moment. We want to continue like this”, he assured at a press conference. If his future remains unclear, Xabi Alonso has sent a very clear message: he is determined to achieve his goals.
