With a lead of four points, Bayer Leverkusen’s chance of winning their first championship title is greater than ever. Or will the club’s reputation as “Vicekusen” catch up again against Borussia Mönchengladbach?
“Never German champion, you will never be German champion” – this fan chant has been common practice at Bayer 04 Leverkusen games for many years. The “Werkself” have failed too often in the past to take the last, decisive step to their first championship title. The most dramatic thing was in 2000, when SpVgg. Unterhaching gave local rivals FC Bayern Munich the championship with a win against Leverkusen on the last matchday.
Leverkusen has the title in their own hands
These two clubs are probably the only clubs that still have a serious chance of winning the title this season. The probabilities have again moved significantly towards Leverkusen in the past few days. After Bayern’s home defeat against Werder Bremen (0:1), coach to be able to catch up.
The championship is now within reach for Leverkusen because it also won the first two games of the second half of the season at FC Augsburg (1-0) and at RB Leipzig (3-2) – both with the decisive goal in stoppage time. Even if Bayern were to win every game (including the one against Bayer on February 10th at the BayArena), Alonso’s team would still have to make another mistake. But that’s exactly what it hasn’t done at all so far this season.
Leverkusen is still without a competitive game defeat and has taken 47 out of 51 possible points (minus the Bayern draw in the first leg). But now it is also important to successfully deal with the title opportunity that is becoming more and more conscious. Or are Leverkusen now showing why they earned the title “Vizekusen” in the early 2000s?
“The derby against Gladbach is very important”
The next Bundesliga game on Saturday against Borussia Mönchengladbach (6.30 p.m.) will be a test of how ready the team is for the title. In the first leg, Leverkusen showed with a 3-0 win that they are clearly superior to their next opponent in normal form. But the closer the possible championship premiere of the “Werkself” gets, the greater the pressure becomes. The time for playing freely is over, but the expectation that Leverkusen will get it now is there.
“We want to continue. After a big win you always have to be ready for the next game. This derby against Gladbach is very important” said Alonso, who pointed out that “The second half of the season is increasingly difficult because all teams are fighting for their goals“. Nevertheless, the Bayer coach wants his team to win the games again before stoppage time.”We want to do our work first, but to do that we have to show a complete performance.“
Alonso has won countless titles as a player and knows that to do so you have to live in the present. Accordingly, he always tries to steer the focus away from the achievements and towards what is immediately ahead. “We don’t want to talk so much about euphoria, but rather keep our feet on the ground until the end“, he said.
Speculation about Alonso as Klopp’s successor
However, due to Jürgen Klopp’s announced retirement from Liverpool FC after this season, the question has returned as to how long Alonso will still have his feet on Leverkusen soil. As soon as the news was out, the 42-year-old, who is often discussed as the next coach of Real Madrid, was already considered a possible successor at his former club (Alonso played for the “Reds” from 2004 to 2009). been.
All of this leaves Alonso cold, but despite his contract running until 2026, he is currently not prepared to do anything more than commit to Leverkusen until the end of the season. “The speculation is normal, but my focus is here at Bayer Leverkusen. I have great motivation and am very happy with the club and the team. I’m not looking at what happens in May, but rather at the next game against Gladbach“, said the Spaniard. Because this is also a test of how much “Vizekusen” really still remains in Leverkusen.