The Basque, who has lost only 3 games out of 75 since the start of last season, praises Inzaghi’s work: “The Nerazzurri are winners and mature”
The belly of the BayArena looks like a photography exhibition: images of the 2023 title on every wall, scenes of jubilation and champagne baths. In almost all the photos the protagonist is this 43-year-old Basque, witty and refined, who enters the press room with the air of someone who is preparing surprises: Xabi Alonso, hero of the last Bundesliga victory, wants the G8 Champions League with his Bayer Leverkusen of miracles. In the middle, however, tomorrow they meet Inter in the European format, who have not yet conceded half a goal and in these parts are feared like certain other teams on the continent: “It is one of the greatest teams there are at the moment, it will be a very challenging challenge. important for us – said Xabi Alonso himself in the previous conference – We know who we have in front of us, but we also know who we are and how much people will push us.” Then, other words on the specifics of this unpredictable Inter, especially in the Champions League: “They have great continuity, they are very solid and they have a clear idea of what needs to be done on the pitch to win. They know where to take the matches, they know how to take them: it will be fantastic playing against such a mature team.”
third Italian
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The defeat against Atalanta in the Europa League final, the only speck in last season’s immaculate sheet, then the victory in this edition of the Champions League here at home with Fonseca’s Milan. Alonso is getting used to playing against the Italians, but this new challenge is even more complex, given the international standing of Inzaghi’s team: “Inter are simply… winners, they played in the Champions League final two years ago, they have won the scudetto with excellent players and has one of the best coaches in the world: you learn a lot by analyzing her and watching her play.” Furthermore, with an excellent midfielder and the return home of former Bayer player Hakan Calhanoglu, a detail that cannot escape a master director like Xabi Alonso: “We don’t think about individuals, but Calha certainly has a great impact on their game – continued the German champion coach – He is dangerous with his shot from outside, but this is possible precisely thanks to his way of moving throughout the department. I remember when he played here, he was simply a 10: his game is changed a lot over time, he moved back little by little to the position of director. He is a key player for Inter, as Kimmich is for Bayern Munich. I can’t say in which exact position, but Hakan certainly is high in the ranking of the best midfielders in Europe, but he is not alone: there are also Barella, Mkhitaryan, Frattesi, Zielinski, Inzaghi really has many solutions in midfield.” In short, Xabi Alonso also identified the key to the Nerazzurri’s success there: “In many cases Inter are covered in the double role in the middle. I evaluate all their midfielders at a very high level, it’s not just about being top players but about playing in a collective way and they know how to do it: they know how to press high, they know how to play short and long, they know how to work on transitions and rotations, which is something typical of Italian football and good to study.”
Italy who knows
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Since the start of last season this super Bayer has played 75 and lost just 3: numbers that make Xabi Alonso’s chest swell and dizzy. “We don’t say these figures out loud… – he joked again -. They say a lot about this club and this team, there is a great collective feeling, we all know that this is the right path to take: I think we have improved a lot and tomorrow too we will try to win in every way because we want to qualify among the top eight and try in every competition.” To do this, the Basque is also recovering Patrik Schick, an old acquaintance of our football: “He is getting closer to his best form, day after day he feels better and we don’t rule him out. Tomorrow morning we will check if he will be in condition to be able to play from the start or while the race is in progress…”. Alonso’s last words, however, are about his future: if as a player he almost came close to Serie A, Juve specifically, then why not imagine him one day in Italy as a coach? “I’m not closing any doors for my tomorrow, but at the moment all my doors are here, at Bayer Leverkusen.”
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