Xabi Alonso achieved an unprecedented Bundesliga title triumph with Bayer Leverkusen last season, and he did so while going unbeaten and also adding the German Cup. However, he admitted that a UEFA Europa League final defeat to Atalanta had hurt him, while also claiming the loss would ultimately make him “a better coach” – more so than if he had guided Leverkusen to a famous unbeaten treble.
Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso believes his side’s Leverkusen Men’s Soccer Jersey defeat in the UEFA Europa League final – which saw them miss out on a historic unbeaten season – will ultimately make him a better manager.
Leverkusen ended the Bundesliga campaign unbeaten and with their first ever German league title secured, were on course for a treble.
However they lost 3-0 to Atalanta in the final of the Europa League, before bouncing back to defeat Kaiserslautern in the DFB Pokal three days later.
Speaking to CNN, Alonso said he felt that his team were on the right path even in the early stages of the season.
“For sure, it’s been quite a journey […] Very challenging, very demanding,” he said.
“During the first weeks of the competition, I had a good feeling that we could make a good season.
Mbappe’s ‘remarkable’ signing cements Madrid’s status as model superclub
Palmer scores on full debut as England ease past Bosnia
Real Madrid confirm Mbappe signing as France star leaves PSG
“For sure, I was not that optimistic that we could fight until the last week, but that we could have a good season? Yes.”
The Spaniard was not aiming to go unbeaten when he arrived as manager, but thinks the feat is a reflection of the work his players were putting in.
“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 Champions League,” he said.
“In the team, [the talk] wasn’t that much the unbeaten run, it was more like the spectacular numbers that we were doing.
“[From] all the media, there’s this excitement of what’s happening that [Leverkusen] are: ‘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 than more in the long term.”
“We’re really proud of it. We need some time to reflect, to deal with it, to observe, to analyze properly. But for the future, I think that some of the principles that we have sustained, those are going to be really meaningful for the future.”
The former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Bayern Munich midfielder Leverkusen Women’s Soccer Jersey conceded that the one-sided defeat in the final lingered with him, but believed that had he landed all three trophies, he may have learned less as a manager.
“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,” he offered.
“I’m pretty sure I have the intuition that that game [against Atalanta] will make me a better coach, better manager than if we would have won the treble.
“For sure, those games you don’t forget, and you can use that for the future.
“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 was also willing to divulge little of his thought process over a potential move to Liverpool to replace Jurgen Klopp, with Arne Slot ultimately joining from Feyenoord to replace the German.
“All these decisions, they need to be thorough. You need to really think about them. Cheap Atalanta soccer jersey And it was more about what I had, not what I’m missing,” he added.
“For sure, my bond with Liverpool is there and it’s still there. So there’s no, any kind of issue with that.”
Over any potential talks to go back to Anfield, Alonso said: “That’s kind of behind the
+ There are no comments
Add yours