Will Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen Win Bundesliga Title This Season?

Bayer Leverkusen have taken European football by storm this season. It has been 33 games since the last time they lost a game and Die Werkself are favourites to win the Bundesliga this season. The mastermind of this milestone is the coach Xabi Alonso who has done a tremendous job, of knitting the team from pieces since last season. 

Finishing sixth in the Bundesliga last season, Leverkusen had to lose their season’s top scorer Moussa Diaby who left for Aston Villa. However, the management took instrumental steps in signing new players from the remaining budget from selling Diaby. 

Also Read: All you need to know of Europa League Round 16 draw including fixtures, teams, dates

Granit Xhaka came from Arsenal and with a lot of experience in competing at the top flight. The Swiss has translated Alonso’s tactics and strategies so well on the pitch so far. Another crucial signing was Jonas Hofmann from Borussia Monchengladbach, who has been useful in the attacking area. 

Leverkusen is competing with a whole different mentality this year. All the players are focused on what they are doing on the pitch. The ten-point gap on the table is not distracting them from celebrating too early as everything could happen in the last minute of the season.

“We should be proud of our position but nothing is won yet – I am speaking from my own experience of last season [at Arsenal],” said Xhaka to Goal. “We had a similar points advantage over the team in second and we did not win the league, so I know this experience and I have shared it with the dressing room. 

“Ten points is a lot when you have 10 games left, but there are still 30 points left to take so it is not over.”

Xhaka is an integral part of Leverkusen’s consistency this season. Playing in the midfield, he completed most touches and passes in the Bundesliga this season. His pass completion rate is also impressive with 93 percent. As an anchor, every defence and attack starts from him. 

“I am not a very skilful player. I try to communicate with my teammates and play it simple – I will let the guys up front produce the magic moments,” said the Albanian descendant player. 

Winning mentality is something Alonso wanted to build with Leverkusen and it shows in what they have done so far. After beating Bayern at Allianz Arena, the Champions League winner praised his player’s attitude towards the game. 

“We have shown personality,” he said to Bundesliga.com. “We have shown quality. We have shown mentality, and that’s the main thing that we want to build on. 

“And there will come worse moments and that’s when we need to stick together. That’s part of football and part of the season, but so far, we have a good feeling.”

Leverkusen still have their eyes on winning numerous trophies this season. Apart from the Bundesliga, they are in the semifinal of the DFB Pokal and are scheduled to face Dusseldorf next month. One other tournament is the Europa League where they have to travel to Azerbaijan to play Qarabag FK.