Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen have experienced nearly everything in soccer over the past year, except bouncing back from a loss.
Leverkusen heads into Saturday’s match against Hoffenheim after a 3-2 defeat to Leipzig in their last league game. This was their first Bundesliga loss since May 2023.
On Friday, Alonso mentioned he’s working on getting the team to refocus and improve. Despite having 27 shots in the Leipzig match, their quick counterattacks were decisive.
“We need to manage better when we don’t have the ball,” Alonso said. “We have to stay stable and aggressive, not too passive. We gave up chances too easily, which is both a football issue and a mental one.”
Leverkusen’s unbeaten run last season was exceptional. They often scored late goals to either secure a point or win crucial games, which became a hallmark of their style, almost like a trademark twist in their story.
Their unbeaten streak in all competitions ended at 51 games with a loss to Atalanta in the Europa League final in May. Their unbeaten record in German competitions lasted 15 months before the loss to Leipzig, including the only perfect Bundesliga season ever.
With the recent international break, Alonso and his team had two weeks to reflect on the Leipzig loss before their away game at Hoffenheim and a Champions League match against Feyenoord on Thursday. However, Alonso had limited face-to-face time with his players who were on international duty.
“It’s quick preparation and brief discussions,” he said. “There’s not much time, but we’ve had enough to analyze and address the key areas to improve. Hopefully, we’ll see a better performance.”
