Xabi Alonso: Leverkusen still chasing big goals this season

Bayer Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga championship win was richly deserved, according to their coach Xabi Alonso, who expressed pride in his team’s performance after they clinched the title by thrashing Werder Bremen 5-0 on Sunday.

This victory, which put them 16 points ahead of former champions Bayern Munich with only five games remaining, marked the club’s first major trophy in 31 years and triggered jubilant scenes among the 30,000 fans at their home stadium.

“This season, we aimed to approach each game with the right mentality, and the players quickly gelled. From the early games, it was evident that this team was capable of playing impressive football,” Alonso stated during a press conference.

“It’s truly an honor to declare Leverkusen as champions. They fully deserve this title — the team, the fans, and everyone at the club,” he added.

Alonso, who began his tenure as head coach in October 2022, also noted that this could be the start of a trophy-laden season, with Leverkusen still competing in the German Cup final and the Europa League quarter-finals.

“The first championship is always special, and it’s incredible to be part of this monumental day for Bayer Leverkusen,” Alonso remarked, acknowledging the significance of the victory. He confirmed his commitment to the club amidst significant interest from other top European clubs.

Leverkusen has not lost in 43 consecutive matches across all competitions, setting a record for the longest unbeaten streak in a single Bundesliga season with 29 games.

“We’ve been conscious of our championship potential all season, even if we didn’t discuss it openly,” Alonso explained. “Now, we need to relish this achievement. It’s been an incredibly demanding season, and it’s not over yet. We still have significant objectives ahead.”

The celebration spilled over into the press conference as players burst in, dousing their coach with beer in jubilation.

Looking ahead, Leverkusen will face West Ham United in their next Europa League match, following a 2-0 win in the first leg.