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Page 1 — What is more important in football, coach or player?
Page 2 — FC Bayern wins because of the superiority of its individual players
Football fans are fueling their hopes for an exciting title race in Germany by a video that is circulating on the Internet. In a Bayer Leverkusen training exercise, Xabi Alonso hits a series of passes to his players, elegantly with the outside instep, all sharp and precise. What is learned is learned. Alonso no longer plays a role when it comes to points, but in this scene the authority that the coach enjoys becomes noticeable. He is the star of the Bundesliga leaders.
The second of the two main players in the Bundesliga is still on the pitch. Harry Kane has scored an incredible 21 Bundesliga goals for FC Bayern in just 15 games since his debut in August (only three were penalties). If he keeps this cut and remains uninjured, he will break Robert Lewandowski’s (41) record. Even relaxed, Kane is aiming for the 50-goal mark.
In this constellation, one of football’s most fundamental questions will receive a new answer at the end of the season: player or coach – which is more important in football?
The short winter break ends this Friday with the game between Bayern and Hoffenheim, and on Saturday Leverkusen wants to consolidate its top position in Augsburg. The duel between the two is, to put it slightly shortened, the duel between Kane and Alonso. Which principle will be the winner in May: as always that of the best squad, that of FC Bayern, or Alonso, the coach who gets the most out of his team?
Alonso’s influence is huge. The team from Leverkusen is a spitting image of the former world-class player. For a decade there was no better defensive midfielder than him. His sense of balance and risk management stood out. Now Leverkusen is constantly attacking without giving up its defense. Bayer 04 have only conceded twelve goals in 16 games, scoring 46 of them.
The charismatic Spaniard’s team doesn’t play perfectly; they made a lot of mistakes in the 1-1 draw in Stuttgart in December. But, as is usual in his home country, she can keep the ball in her own ranks and carry it forward. All players take part in the building game. She hasn’t lost a game yet, not even in the cup or the Europa League.
Even games in which a lot went against her, like against Borussia Dortmund, she survived with a draw. It could be that the second half of the season will be more difficult, especially since the club is sending some regular players to the continental championships in Africa and Asia. Some people expect Bayern to always win anyway. Why should Vizekusen, of all people, change that? But Alonso’s structure appears very solid.
And it works independently of big names. As well as? Apart from the coach, who has long since been traded to larger clubs, there are none. Florian Wirtz is the best kicker at Bayer, but he is still at the beginning of his career. Granit Xhaka brings Premier League experience but was sidelined at Arsenal. Jonas Hoffmann and Jonathan Tah play for Germany, but only in supporting roles. And Lukáš Hrádecký is not one of the five best goalkeepers in the league.
Football fans are fueling their hopes for an exciting title race in Germany by a video that is circulating on the Internet. In a Bayer Leverkusen training exercise, Xabi Alonso hits a series of passes to his players, elegantly with the outside instep, all sharp and precise. What is learned is learned. Alonso no longer plays a role when it comes to points, but in this scene the authority that the coach enjoys becomes noticeable. He is the star of the Bundesliga leaders.
The second of the two main players in the Bundesliga is still on the pitch. Harry Kane has scored an incredible 21 Bundesliga goals for FC Bayern in just 15 games since his debut in August (only three were penalties). If he keeps this cut and remains uninjured, he will break Robert Lewandowski’s (41) record. Even relaxed, Kane is aiming for the 50-goal mark.
