Europe League
The final in sight: Alonso’s triple hunters want revenge
Leverkusen’s head coach Xabi Alonso (2nd from left) celebrates with his players. photo
© Kin Cheung/AP
Three titles are still possible. In the semi-finals of the Europa League, Leverkusen now faces an opponent with whom Bayer has a score to settle. Coach Alonso also has a big goal in the league.
With a real show of strength, Bayer 04 fought their way into the semi-finals of the Europa League against West Ham United. The 1-1 draw on Thursday was the Rhinelanders’ 44th competitive game in a row without defeat. No team from Europe’s top football leagues has achieved such a series this millennium. The record series should now last until the end of the season.
Already against the next top team
“That’s our goal now. We have five games left and can be even more historic,” said Alonso on Friday, looking ahead to the remaining games in the Bundesliga. Even if the first championship title in the club’s history has been secured: Alonso definitely wants to prevent his team from slipping.
The next difficult test awaits Borussia Dortmund on Sunday (5.30 p.m./DAZN). “Dortmund are semi-finalists in the Champions League and a top team in Europe,” said Alonso.
Even more important than the historic first championship in the Bundesliga without defeat would of course be further trophies in the Europa League and the DFB Cup. Like last year, the opponent in the European Cup semi-finals is AS Roma. Leverkusen still has a score to settle with the Italians. Under the then coach José Mourinho, the Giallorossi reached the final in a heated duel with a nerve-wracking time game. “We are really looking forward to the revenge,” said defense chief Jonathan Tah.
However, Alonso didn’t want to talk about revenge. “In football you always have a second chance for everything, not for revenge,” he said in a very gentlemanly manner. “It’s just a second chance to do better.”
Leverkusen has matured enormously
The prospects of this succeeding are good. The Werkself’s leap in performance this season is obvious. Leverkusen plays like a rip-off, often deciding games with late goals. Bayer 04 have the ability to endure even weaker phases like in the first half against West Ham. Added to this is the strong physique, the unconditional will to succeed and the individual class of players like Florian Wirtz or Granit Xhaka.
Leverkusen has matured into an absolute top team in Europe. This is also reflected in the interest of even larger clubs in Bayer 04 players. There is always speculation about Wirtz’s future. For the exceptional footballer, who will not be sold in the summer, managing director Fernando Carro recently called for a transfer fee of at least 150 million euros on “Radio Marca”.
Xhaka: Rome “a Champions League team”
Alonso did not want to comment on this amount. However, he said: “We know how important and special Flo is to us. He is a key player. We want to work with him and help him develop.” The 20-year-old’s next chance to do this on the international stage will be in the first leg in Rome in two weeks.
Regarding the opponent, who is now coached by Daniele De Rossi, midfield leader Xhaka said: “In my opinion, this is a Champions League team.” The 31-year-old added: “We will try to give our fans a final in Dublin.”
The final will take place on May 22nd, three days before the DFB Cup final against 1. FC Kaiserslautern in Berlin. So it could be another tough week ahead. The Basque then admitted that such a situation would not leave Alonso completely unscathed. “I’m tired, but it’s okay,” he said on Friday and smiled.