Bayer Leverkusen’s excellent Bundesliga season with 52 points from 20 games to date is directly linked to the work and head coach Xabi Alonso. The Spaniard has long since put himself in the window of several top clubs, including Liverpool FC and FC Barcelona, who are said to be aiming to work with Alonso. The German record international player Lothar Matthäus is sure that there is still a real chance of staying in Leverkusen beyond the summer.
In his “Sky” column, the 62-year-old was initially full of praise for Xabi Alonso, who has literally kissed Bayer Leverkusen awake since he took office over a year ago: “Every time I saw Bayer 04 this season, they were Playing style and Alonso’s idea are clearly visible.”
According to Matthäus, a big plus for the 2010 world champion and the Werkself was that Alonso had “an enormous influence on his team”: “He got the players he wanted from those in charge in the summer and the team according to his put together according to your wishes.”
Recently, however, speculation has increased that the head coach of the first-round champions could leave the Rhineland after the current season. Regardless of whether Bayer Leverkusen becomes German champion for the first time or not.
Bayer hosts FC Bayern
However, TV expert Matthäus believes that in both scenarios there is still a chance that Alonso will stay with the Werkself beyond the summer: “We hear that Real Madrid is his dream club, but Carlo Ancelotti has extended there. Liverpool and Barcelona are looking for a coach, but by moving to one of these clubs he would probably ruin the Madrid option in the long term. This aspect could play into Leverkusen’s hands so that Alonso fulfills his contract,” believes the 1990 World Cup captain.
Alonso has long been considered a possible successor candidate to Thomas Tuchel as head coach at FC Bayern should the Munich team miss their goals this season. Next Saturday evening there will be a direct clash between the leaders and the German record champions in the BayArena (from 6:30 p.m.).