Bayer 04 Leverkusen: Super coach Xabi Alonso can do no wrong

What was wrong with Magician Wirtz?
Super coach Xabi Alonso simply can’t do anything wrong

By Emmanuel Schneider, Leverkusen
May 10, 2024, 7:48 a.m

First the line-up causes question marks, then it is celebrated again. Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen are continuing their incredible success story in the Europa League. The realization is becoming more and more widespread: This coach can do no wrong.

Playing a football game in 2024 is relatively easy. It takes 90 regular minutes, at least five more in stoppage time – and in the end Xabi Alonso is somehow right with his line-up. The fact that Leverkusen doesn’t lose is almost self-explanatory. Is there such a thing as trust in God in professional football? Well, in Leverkusen, between A1 and A3, they come pretty close.

The latest example was marveled at by 30,210 spectators in the BayArena on Thursday evening when the late-night Leverkusen team performed their next football drama and then celebrated again. After the Roma guests were not so kindly sent back to the eternal city by the stadium DJ with “Bella Ciao”, the next party took place on the other side for the eternally unbeaten Leverkusen team, now 48 times in a row.

It was louder than ever before when the team stormed towards the north curve in their red final shirts. And the Werkself supporters picked Xabi Alonso as their hero. With shouts of “Xabi, Xabi” they unmistakably ordered their head coach to the corner. The Spaniard, who likes to watch the celebrations from a few meters away and let the team go first, played along. He celebrated in front of the curve with his red T-shirt. “Xabi Alonso, Xabi Alonso,” the fans shouted to the man who shaped this team into the all-consuming mentality monster.

Alonso surprises with his formation

However, it was not foreseeable throughout the course of the game that the 42-year-old would be sung about this late evening. The first question marks popped up when the lineup was announced. No Florian Wirtz, no Victor Boniface? As in the first leg, there was no real penalty area striker, but Adam Hložek was in the starting line-up. Well, it’ll be fine – that’s the mood.

It was certainly seen as a surprise that the German international Wirtz, whom Alonso had declared fit during the week, was not in the starting eleven in the decisive semi-final second leg. The 21-year-old Bayer gem scored the opening goal in the first leg. Midfielder Robert Andrich, the second goalscorer from the game in Rome, also remained on the bench. Rotation à la Alonso.

The hosts absolutely wanted to avoid failing at the Italian bulwark like they did a year ago. So the Alonso team stormed off furiously, put the guests under pressure, created more chances and shots – then, strangely enough, were 2-0 behind due to two unfortunate actions and the resulting penalties. While Alonso gestured to his team to be calm and calm, the game became more heated. The Leverkusen coach was also upset by the referee’s whistle.

Lots of fuss, lots of shots – no results

And more and more fans in the stadium stretched their heads and glanced at the group of Bayer players warming up on the sidelines. No landlord? Where is Wirtz? Especially since the offensive forces around Jonas Hofmann, Hlozek and Jeremie Frimpong played with commitment, created many chances to score, but were extremely unlucky in the end. But Alonso and his team kept calm. In the 81st minute he let Wirtz off the leash: applause in the stadium, a signal to his own team and especially to AS Roma. Blessed is the one who can bring in probably the most talented player in Germany in the final phase.

Just two minutes later, the focus was on two other players. Alejandro Grimaldo curled a corner into the box, and in the mud the ball bounced into the face of Gianluca Mancini, who scored Leverkusen’s goal with an own goal. And Leverkusen wouldn’t be Leverkusen if a goal wasn’t scored in the last few seconds – thanks to a joker. Josip Stanisic, who came on as a substitute in the 90th (!) minute, shot the ball into the far corner when the final whistle blew. Goal, escalation, “Around the World – La La La” goal anthem, party.

Bayer Leverkusen’s record now stands all around Europe. No other team has managed a series of 49 unbeaten competitive games in a row. The Werkself replaced Benfica Lisbon as the European record holder. Only VfL Bochum can prevent the 50th anniversary. It was precisely against this Bochum that Leverkusen once suffered its last defeat (in May 2023). Long ago.

After the Bundesliga lap of honor, Alonso sends his team into the week of madness in mid-May. On May 18th, the Werkself will be presented with the championship trophy in the home game against Augsburg, three days later they will face Atalanta Bergamo in Dublin for the Europa League crown, before the triple is completed again three days later in Berlin in the DFB Cup can. “I saw in the boys’ eyes that they believed they could turn this game around. Playing two finals in one week is incredible. I’m very proud of the team and now we have the big goal, the three “To win the title,” said Alonso.

“He couldn’t walk well, he limped”

At the press conference shortly before midnight, he also explained the long wait for Wirtz. A blow from the game against BVB still has an impact and limits the offensive artist. “He couldn’t walk well and was limping. He wanted to help the team. Even with 70 percent, he’s a good player. We had a good influence from him,” said Alonso.

He hasn’t unsettled his team with his rotation anyway. When asked whether Alonso could still surprise the team with his formations, clock setter Granit Xhaka had to smile in the mixed zone. “What does surprised mean? We have him with us every day. He already knows what he’s doing,” said the Swiss. “What he does is to the point. We have different players with different qualities who can help the team. To this day he has always made the right decision.”

When Wirtz came in, we saw that “we had another player with a different class who could draw a game,” said Xhaka. The compliment goes not just to one player, but to the entire team, including the players on the bench. “That’s the only way to get to the final.” And not just in one. “It could be a really great week,” said goalscorer Stanisic after the game, with a view to a possible three-pack title in mid-May. “We’re looking forward to the games.” One thing is clear: no matter how Xabi Alonso lines up or rotates. Everyone in Leverkusen will trust him blindly. It’s that simple sometimes.