They had certainly imagined the start of the coaching experiment with Xabi Alonso differently at Bayer Leverkusen. But the coach isn't worried yet. The former world star believes in the quality of the squad. But the club is sinking into the relegation battle.
Xabi Alonso has just experienced too much to get hectic. With calm but penetrating words, the Bayer Leverkusen coach encouraged his team and looked to the near future with optimism. "What we're doing is going in the right direction. We'll show better things. I have the feeling that everyone in the cabin is sticking together and is ready to fight," said the Spaniard after the 2-0 defeat at RB Leipzig. "I think we have the quality to show better results. We don't get depressed."
A mixed feeling remains. For one thing, Bayer only won one of six games under Alonso. And didn't have a dangerous scene to offer in Leipzig, was shockingly unimaginative in the last third. On the other hand, the 40-year-old has helped his team to achieve defensive stability. The two goals from Leipzig by Christopher Nkunku (32nd minute) and Timo Werner (83rd) resulted from two of three clear chances for the Saxons.
It was actually a game that could have ended 0-0. Both teams felt the hardships of the past few weeks. Leverkusen only played at Atlético in Madrid on Wednesday, Leipzig was more exhausted than intoxicated by the 3-2 win against Real the day before. And then the first goal was scored by a standard that at least caused discussions at Bayer.
Because Piero Hincapié clearly hit the ball first in his duel with Dominik Szoboszlai. "It was a very, very important decision by the referee - and I didn't think it was right," said Leverkusen midfielder Robert Andrich on Sky. Leipzig didn't care. Szoboszlai crossed the free-kick into the middle and Nkunku headed in his ninth goal of the season. Andrich rightly emphasized that this goal played Leipzig "completely into the cards".
In front of 45,598 fans, the cup winner was only waiting for the decisive counterattack. This was done with a long pass into Werner's barrel, who made the decision after a sprint over 30 meters. "They only needed one mistake from us to get the second goal," said Alonso. he was right.
And yet the harmlessness of Leverkusen cannot only be explained by tiredness. Alonso could be blamed for bringing ex-Leipziger Patrik Schick on after 65 minutes. The Czech caused a lot more excitement than his compatriot Adam Hlozek in the same position before. Moussa Diaby and Amine Adli weren't involved at all in the wing positions either.
That also had something to do with the Leipzig tactics. For the first time during his tenure, coach Marco Rose relied on the back three, which he did not really love. "I had a feeling," said the 46-year-old. "Here comes the fastest team in the Bundesliga, they will always have deep runs into the interfaces." They did, but they were neutralized so well that the Leipzig goalkeeper Örjan Nyland was only able to save a harmless shot on his debut in the RB jersey. The Norwegian played for Janis Blaswich, who was suffering from calf problems.
In the end, Rose proved himself right with the result for his tactical change. And Alonso a few warm words along the way. "I wish you that you get positive results to continue working well on what you started," said the Leipziger. The Spaniard, sitting two meters away, thanked him with a nod and a smile. He would have preferred the points.
