Leverkusen’s new coach Xabi Alonso has to prove himself internationally for the first time against Porto – directly in an important game in the Champions League.
It’s a special game for Xabi Alonso in the Champions League – even though he’s won it twice already. “It’s the best competition you can play, but as a coach it’s a completely different thing,” explained Alonso. The game of his new club Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday against FC Porto is the first for him on the sidelines in the premier class.
Exciting group constellation
At its premiere in the league, Leverkusen had shown a significantly better performance than in the past few weeks. “What we did well were the basics. We have to bring them every game,” said Alonso, looking at Porto.
Under Alonso’s predecessor Gerardo Seoane, this was rarely achieved – with a few exceptions: One of these exceptions was the 2-0 win against Atletico Madrid in the premier class.
Thanks to this victory, Leverkusen have an important game against Porto. The Werkself are currently third in Group B with just these three points, level on points with Porto and Madrid.
Due to the 2-0 defeat in the first leg against the Portuguese, the direct comparison against FC is currently lost – it would be important to at least equalize that in the second leg. On the other hand, if you lost, you would be under a lot of pressure in the two remaining games.
Alonso strengthens Schick and Hradecky
It is pleasing that Alonso has hardly any injured players to complain about. At best, the long-term convalescents Florian Wirtz and Karim Bellarabi are missing. The coach also strengthened the backs of two players who were in poor form: Patrik Schick and Lukas Hradecky.
“The goals will come back. Patrik has the quality for it. If he helps the team, the team will help him,” said Alonso at the pre-match press conference. You have to “have trust” in Hradecky, who hasn’t always been sovereign, and as captain he has “enough character and the team needs him”.
In the Schalke victory, the Finn was not challenged in goal, but the game without conceding should have given him self-confidence. Bayer’s goalkeeper will probably get more busy minutes against FC Porto. He experienced first-hand how good the Portuguese are in the first leg.
Alonso speaks of the Portuguese with a lot of respect and even sees “one of the best teams in Europe”. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but the game will be a tough test. For the team and the new coach.
