Seven competitive wins in a row: Bayer Leverkusen are going into the first leg of the quarter-finals in the Europa League with a lot of momentum and as favorites.
Xabi Alonso didn’t want to be lured into daydreaming. “We still have a long way to go. I’m not thinking about the final. Our full focus is on Union Saint-Gilloise,” said the coach Bayer Leverkusen before the quarter-final first leg in the Europa League on Thursday (9 p.m.) against the Belgian representative.
Diaby: “Different mentality on the pitch”
After a little over half a year in office, Bayer has internalized the game idea of the former world-class player. With seven competitive wins under their belt, it’s now on the home straight – there the Werkself could still ennoble the season they initially thought was lost. “We have a completely different mentality on the pitch now. We’re showing Bayer’s true colors right now,” said top scorer Moussa Diaby.
Leverkusen impressed in the past few weeks with full-throttlefootball, merciless efficiency and a solid defense. The offensive trio of Diaby, Amine Adli and national player Florian Wirtz makes forget the loss of striker Patrik Schick at the front, at the back the often criticized Jonathan Tah towered over in the 3-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt at the weekend.
Wirtz at eleven goal participations in 15 games
Above all, Wirtz is in top form again after his cruciate ligament tear. Bayer won nine of eleven competitive games with the young star in the starting XI, and the playmaker has contributed three goals and eight assists in 15 competitive appearances since his comeback. “He has the quality to always play the decisive pass,” said Alonso: “But he also has the mentality to fight and help the team.”
Alonso can draw on full strength again on Thursday, Piero Hincapie, Adam Hlozek, Nadiem Amiri and Kerem Demirbay are back in the squad after minor injuries and illnesses. Bayer is the favourite, but Alonso warns against the Union Berlin conqueror from the round of 16: “They have a top team. We are expecting two intense games.”
AS Roma or Feyenoord in the semifinals
After a poor start to the season, qualification for the Champions League is suddenly within reach for the Werkself again, hopes of a magical journey in the Europa League and their first title since the DFB Cup triumph in 1993 are growing. The same goes for the fans who called for collective support when the bus arrived on Thursday.
AS Roma or Feyenoord Rotterdam would wait in the semi-finals, in the final on May 31 in Budapest it could be against the heavyweights Juventus Turin or Manchester United. Before the big games, however, Leverkusen first have to overcome the quarter-final hurdle. “The guys know exactly what to do. I see the hunger, that’s the most important thing to be successful,” said Alonso.
