Successful coach Xabi Alonso transformed Bayer Leverkusen from relegation candidates to Bundesliga leaders in just one year. A star player acknowledges the development – with an ironic remark.
“He maybe runs more than the players, he wants to show us everything,” said midfield leader Granit is one of the most active on the field.
Alonso is “an ambitious guy. It’s an honor for me to get to know him. Especially as a player – he’s someone who is brutally enthusiastic on the pitch,” said the Swiss and couldn’t stop raving about it. “He is so hungry for success and perfection. You can see that on the pitch.”
But Xhaka himself didn’t have any teething problems at his new club and is currently one of the best players in the league.
Bayer star “the most important player” under Xabi Alonso?
“He plays at the heart of the team, is a pacesetter, experienced, clever, good at passing, gives a good rhythm,” said sports director Simon Rolfes, who brought the 31-year-old from Arsenal in the summer for around 25 million euros with a contract until 2028.
Xhaka “cannot be emphasized enough. One of the most important, if not the most important player,” said Lukas Hradecky about his creative and strong duel in front. “I have the honor of being captain. But he takes on so much responsibility, which helps us a lot.”
Xhaka is indispensable for Alonso and is one of the very few who has been on the field from the start in all ten competitive games so far.
“It’s really fun to play with this team,” he said. “We mustn’t stop, we can definitely dream.”