Bayer Leverkusen's head coach, Xabi Alonso, is urging his team to maintain their creativity and intelligence as they face Werder Bremen, emphasizing the importance of players making their own decisions on the pitch. Alonso, credited with orchestrating Leverkusen's remarkable rise from relegation places to the top of the Bundesliga, encourages a style of play that values individual creativity over a rigid approach. Leverkusen's outstanding start to the season, with 31 points from 11 games, equals the Bundesliga's greatest beginning, yet Alonso deflects praise, emphasizing the significance of the players over the coach.
While Leverkusen has showcased attractive football and garnered attention for Alonso's tactical influence, the coach underscores the importance of finding the right words at the right time, steering away from excessive analysis. Drawing from his extensive playing career and experiences under influential coaches like Pep Guardiola, Carlo Ancelotti, Jose Mourinho, and Vicente del Bosque, Alonso emphasizes the impact of effective communication on player relationships. He particularly praises Ancelotti as a master of man management and expresses admiration for Jurgen Klopp's transformative work at Liverpool.
Recruitment has played a pivotal role in Leverkusen's resurgence, with the addition of players like Granit Xhaka, Jonas Hofmann, Alex Grimaldo, and Victor Boniface. Alonso downplays expectations despite Leverkusen's scintillating form, dismissing talk of breaking the 'Neverkusen' curse or winning the Bundesliga. He prefers a cautious approach, stating that discussions about achievements can start after 25 games. As Leverkusen fans wonder if Alonso can lead them to Bundesliga glory, the coach remains focused on the long road ahead, emphasizing the need for sustained performance over the course of the season.
A player to watch in Leverkusen's transformation is former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka, praised by Alonso for his fundamental leadership role in the team's success. Xhaka, in turn, acknowledges Alonso's guidance, highlighting the coach's attention to small details on the pitch as something special.
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