Tag: Xabi Alonso

Dortmund, Bayern runs put Leverkusen title in perspective: Xabi Alonso

The success of Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich in Europe this season highlights how impressive unbeaten Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen have been, coach Xabi Alonso said Wednesday. 

Alonso, speaking with Leverkusen on the brink of the Europa League final, congratulated Dortmund for making the Champions League final after beating Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 on aggregate on Tuesday.

Bayern Munich can make it an all-German final by defeating Real Madrid in their finely-balanced second leg on Wednesday.

Then Leverkusen can book their place in the Europa League showdown on Thursday if they can hold onto their 2-0 lead from the first leg against Roma.

Alonso’s side were crowned German champions for the first time in their history in mid-April and are on a season-long unbeaten run of 48 games in all competitions this season.

“This high level in the Bundesliga means what we’ve been able to do is not easy,” Alonso told reporters.

“It’s very positive for the Bundesliga. I should congratulate Dortmund and congratulate Edin (Terzic, their coach), it’s not easy to make it to the Champions League final.

“Yesterday they played as a team so congrats to them.”

Leverkusen can break the record for successive unbeaten games set by Benfica in 1965 by avoiding defeat against Roma and are two league matches away from being the first side to go through a Bundesliga season unbeaten.

Alonso played in the Bundesliga for Bayern as well as with Liverpool in the Premier League and for Real Madrid in La Liga before becoming a manager.

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He was linked with Jurgen Klopp’s soon-to-be-vacant manager’s job at Liverpool and the hot seat at Bayern Munich but has said he will remain at Leverkusen next season.

Alonso was asked whether the English league’s claims of being the best were warranted with no teams in the final four of either the Champions League or Europa League this season.

“You can say anything you like, but results are results. They’re facts — you cannot discard them,” the Spaniard said.

Leverkusen only need to avoid defeat by more than a goal at home against Roma on Thursday to progress to the final in Dublin on May 22.

The 42-year-old manager said “a return leg is always a dangerous situation. No matter what the first result was, a goal can quickly change the situation and the mindset.

“We want to be aggressive, to control the game and to defend well.”

Last season, Roma defeated Leverkusen over two legs to make it to the final and Alonso said the bitter memory of that May evening would motivate them.

“We haven’t forgotten what we experienced in our stadium and the feeling we felt last year.

“We must use this energy and hopefully we can celebrate at the end.”

Leverkusen defender Edmund Tapsoba echoed Alonso’s statements, telling reporters “we saw last season how our fans suffered after the defeat against Roma.

“We want to give back to them for what they did for us this season.”

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‘We’re not done yet’, says Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso after historic title win

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said his unbeaten side was “not done yet” after winning their debut Bundesliga title on Sunday with a treble still possible this season. 

Leverkusen’s 5-0 win over Werder Bremen at home on Sunday, including a second-half hat-trick from Florian Wirtz, sealed the first Bundesliga title in their 120-year history.

Alonso — who is in his first full season as a coach having joined Leverkusen midway through last season — told reporters after the game the sky was the limit for his side, who are yet to lose a match in 43 games this season.

Soaking wet with beer after his players surprised him during the press conference, the 42-year-old manager reminded everyone “it’s not over yet”.

“We’ll see how far we can go. I have a good feeling about it.”

The win sent Leverkusen 16 points clear of Bayern Munich with five games to go, meaning they cannot be caught.

Their points total of 79 is the best after 29 games in German football history.

Leverkusen are through to the final of the German Cup and have a 2-0 lead after the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final with West Ham, with the second leg to take place on Thursday.

“It’s not over yet and we’ve got great goals we still want to achieve. But we can think about that on Tuesday. “Today and tomorrow, we need to celebrate.”

Alonso pledged to stay at Leverkusen another year in late March, despite reported interest from Liverpool and Bayern Munich.

Alonso, who retired after a glittering playing career with Liverpool, Bayern and Real Madrid, said his experience was an advantage working with players.

“I want to be near the players, talk to them and as someone who played I know what they’re feeling.

“I have empathy and connection with the players, which is important in the dressing room. I try and keep this connection to the team.”

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Leverkusen have finished second five times but had never broken through for a German title.

Alonso said: “This trophy belongs to a lot of people and we have to enjoy it.”

Leverkusen’s win broke an 11-year run of Bayern Munich’s dominance in the Bundesliga.

“It’s perhaps healthy for the Bundesliga and German football that other teams win — and it’s a great pleasure that it’s us,” said Alonso.

Another victim of a beer shower, which is a tradition in German football, Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka told reporters coming to the club “was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life”.

Xhaka moved to Leverkusen from Arsenal in the summer, having spent seven years at the Gunners.

Last season, Arsenal led the Premier League for much of the campaign, only to be caught by a treble-bound Manchester City.

The Switzerland captain said: “When you start to first kick the ball as a child you think about titles.

“After seven years at Arsenal, we nearly won the title last year. I’m very thankful to be here and I was waiting so long for this moment.”

Wirtz’s second-half hat trick sealed the victory and the 20-year-old midfielder said “at the start of the season we couldn’t have imagined this”.

“It (the belief) came gradually when we started winning a lot of matches with a dominant style of play. We said to ourselves we could do better than just have a good season and qualify for the Champions League.”

Leverkusen winger Jonas Hofmann, 31, who won the Bundesliga for the first time after more than a decade in German football was emotional.

“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry. We always pushed ourselves to the limit, that was just awesome.”

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