Alonso has this share in Bayer Leverkusen’s soaring

Xabi Alonso embodies Bayer Leverkusen’s upswing. The Spaniard’s tactical finesse is one reason for the success – and gives the Werkself hope of a title.

What characterized Xabi Alonso par excellence during his active playing career also becomes a trump card in his coaching life: strategic flair.

Under the direction of the Spaniard, Bayer Leverkusen has blossomed from a crisis club to a title contender. Although the Werkself were still in 17th place when Gerardo Seoane was sacked, a place in the Champions League is now within reach again. Reaching the Europa League final could finally save a season that was thought to be lost.

Striking: Alonso scores as a real tactical fox. Depending on the situation, he changes the arrangement of his players – and uses unusual methods to do so.

The 41-year-old unpacked his masterpiece in the 2-1 win against FC Bayern Munich.

The extremely dominant performance of the Rhinelanders surprised. But the way Leverkusen achieved success was even more so. Robert Andrich, who actually ensures order in defensive midfield, was given a special task in advance.

“After my afternoon nap, I had a message from the coach on my cell phone: ‘Rob, you’re playing libero again today,'” said Andrich after the game and explained his role, which opened the door: “The idea behind it was that we are far more variable with the ball. Because a six might have a different sense of space.”

Alonso’s ingenious plan worked perfectly. Andrich played defensively flawlessly and often put through passes in depth. The fact that two strong players, the 28-year-old and Edmond Tapsoba, were positioned in the back three was the decisive reason why Leverkusen repeatedly evaded the Munich press.

The Bayer coach reinvented the libero, so to speak, and at the same time expanded his team’s tactical repertoire. Andrich was the last man on the pitch in the 1-1 draw in Freiburg. He also held this position, which was thought to be extinct, in the 0-0 draw against Wolfsburg.

The rebirth of the libero was no accident. Since Alonso took office, the strengthening and flexibility of the defense has had the highest priority.

In particular, the bitter 1: 5 swatter in Frankfurt, which Bayer conceded in October, made him think. “I didn’t like what I saw in our game. Our game was very chaotic and hectic. It wasn’t good,” he said afterwards.

Chaos and hectic are now a thing of the past. Alonso instilled numerous systems into his team – from three, four to five man chains or the libero version with Andrich. The long World Cup break in December was used to study important mechanisms.

Under Alonso, the individual form curve of the players also increases significantly. Jonathan Tah, Piero Hincapié, Edmond Tapsoba, Odilon Kossounou or Andrich – they are all in strong form and important building blocks of the recovery.

Only when the susceptibility to errors in defense decreased did the Spaniard add playful elements.

Alonso now regularly presents the opposing coaches with intellectual tasks on the offensive.

Florian Wirtz is at the center of every formation. “You have to give such special players the chance to do special things on the pitch,” Alonso said of the 19-year-old.

Depending on the opponent, Wirtz is protected by one or two sixes. On offense, in addition to the Bayer jewel, you can choose between the nimble attackers Moussa Diaby and Amine Adli or powerful strikers like Adam Hlozek and Sardar Azmoun. If the tactic still doesn’t work, the ex-professional reacts quickly.

Like in the Europa League quarter-finals against Saint-Gilloise. Bayer fell behind in the first leg (1-1), the small Diaby and Adli could hardly hold their own against robust Belgians. Alonso promptly ordered Azmoun, a real striker, onto the pitch, which turned the game around and prepared Wirtz for the important equaliser.

In the decisive second leg victory (4:1) Hlozek gained confidence. The strong Czech came into its own much better, also booked an assist and scored a goal himself. The confirmation: Alonso not only uses plan A, but also plans B, C or D.

In the Europa League semi-finals, not only is the next stress test imminent, but also the reunion with José Mourinho. The Portuguese was the boss at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013 and Alonso as a midfield strategist responsible for the balance of the royal team. There is great respect on both sides.

So Alonso was inspired by Mourinho in his current thinking. “I’ve been influenced by all the coaches I’ve had. And I was lucky to have been with very good coaches. They all left their mark on me,” he revealed.

Will the Bayer coach knock his teacher out of the race in the fight for the final? Alonso can be trusted.

Sports director Simon Rolfes was ambitious. “The goal is the final. In the past few weeks, we’ve managed and lived as a team to focus on the next step,” said the 41-year-old. Leverkusen haven’t made it that far internationally since the 2001/02 season. Back then, the Werkself lost to Real Madrid in the Champions League final.

Thanks to Alonso’s tactical tricks, there is hope that Bayer will again reach for a European trophy in Budapest on May 31 – after a long wait of 21 years.