Xabi Alonso, a former player who has played for top clubs like Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, took over as the manager of Bayer Leverkusen last season.
Under his guidance, Leverkusen did the unthinkable– they went through the whole Bundesliga season without losing a single match. This helped them win their first-ever Bundesliga title.
But their journey didn’t stop there. They also won the German Cup by defeating the second-division Bundesliga side, Kaiserslautern.
However, their dream of winning three trophies, known as a treble, was cut short when they lost 3-0 to Atalanta in the Europa League final. Regardless, it was an impressive way to end the campaign.
In an incredible season that saw Bayer Leverkusen achieve an unbeaten run and win the Bundesliga and the German Cup, their coach, Xabi Alonso, believes their loss in the UEFA Europa League final will make the team stronger in the future.
He believes that the loss was a reality check for his side, who might have gotten used to winning so much that they might have forgotten the sting of defeat.
Fans of Bayer Leverkusen can continue celebrating their prized domestic double, but it is a good place to remind you reading this that you should purchase Bayer Leverkusen tickets to watch the Germans or your European team from a reliable online ticket store.
Growing and Learning from Defeat
Speaking to CNN, Alonso admitted that losing the Europa League final was tough. But instead of being disheartened, he sees this defeat as a valuable lesson. “It’s football. The exception has been the 52 matches that we made. To deal with the defeat, it’s part of our job. It’s not the first time, and it’s not going to be the last time,” Alonso said.
He believes that this loss will help him develop and become a better coach. “I’m pretty sure I have the intuition that that game against Atalanta will make me a better coach, a better manager than if we would have won the treble. At the moment, it hurts. It hurts so much, but I have that feeling that it will be more useful for my development than winning the treble.”
Alonso talked about how he felt his team was on the right path from the very beginning of the season. “For sure, it’s been quite a journey..Very challenging, very demanding,” he said. He shared that even though he didn’t expect them to remain unbeaten, he always believed they could have a great season.
“During the first weeks of the competition, I had a good feeling that we could make a good season. For sure, I was not that optimistic that we could fight until the last week, but that we could have a good season. Yes.”
Alonso also highlighted the hard work and determination of his players. They didn’t set out to go unbeaten, but their dedication and teamwork made it possible. “Last year, it was a difficult year for the club. When I came, the second part of the season was better. We try to get back to where we thought that we could make it. The goal this year was to make the Champions League,” he explained.
Throughout the season, the media and fans were excited about Leverkusen’s unbeaten run, which added pressure on the team.
However, Alonso preferred focusing on short-term goals rather than getting carried away with the unbeaten streak. “From all the media, there’s this excitement of what’s happening that Leverkusen is: ‘One more game, one more game. 42, 43, and it continues.’ So that adds some kind of pressure. We prefer to think about short goals more than in the long term.”
Despite the pressure, Alonso is proud of what the team achieved. “We’re proud of it. We need some time to reflect, to deal with it, to observe, and to analyze properly. But for the future, I think that some of the principles that we have sustained are going to be meaningful for the future.”
Going forward, Alonso is optimistic about the future. He believes that the experiences and lessons from this season, including the loss in the Europa League final, will help him and his team grow stronger. He also mentioned that dealing with defeats is part of football, and learning from them is crucial for improvement.
Alonso’s experience as a player and now as a coach gives him a unique perspective. He understands that setbacks can be as important as victories in the journey of becoming better. His positive attitude and focus on continuous improvement are likely to propel his team to bounce back even stronger next season.
Rumours of a move to Liverpool or Real Madrid
There were rumours about Alonso potentially moving to Liverpool to replace their erstwhile manager, Jurgen Klopp.
However, Alonso chose to stay focused on his job at Leverkusen. He said, “All these decisions, they need to be thorough. You need to think about them. And it was more about what I had, not what I’m missing.”
He acknowledged his strong bond with Liverpool but emphasised that his focus remains on his current role. “For sure, my bond with Liverpool is there, and it’s still there. So there’s no, any kind of issue with that.”
Regarding any talks about returning to Anfield, Alonso said, “That’s kind of behind the curtains.”
Conclusion
Xabi Alonso’s journey with Bayer Leverkusen this season has been extraordinary. Even though they missed out on the treble, their achievements are commendable. Alonso’s belief that the Europa League loss will strengthen him and his team shows his resilience and determination.
Managers and players never plan to lose games, but sometimes, they provide the extra motivation to do better and achieve greater heights.
As Bayer Leverkusen and their fans look forward to the next season, they can be confident that under Alonso’s guidance, they will continue to grow and strive for more success.
