Bayer’s Robert Andrich apparently no longer has any doubts about winning the championship. He is aware of the rumors about Xabi Alonso, but doesn’t want to be deterred.
Looking towards the championship: Leverkusen’s Robert Andrich. IMAGO/Kessler sports photography
It’s a special season for Robert Andrich – at association and club level. On the one hand, he celebrated his international debut in November 2023, was recently called up for the DFB team for the third time and could be called into the starting eleven for the first time by national coach Julian Nagelsmann this Saturday, when Germany meets France in Lyon. On the other hand, the 29-year-old midfielder is unbeaten with Bayer 04 after 38 competitive games and still has all three possible title options.
Leverkusen leads the Bundesliga table with ten points ahead of FC Bayern. In the DFB Cup, Bayer will face second division team Fortuna Düsseldorf in the semi-finals and are the last remaining first division team in the field. And in the Europa League, the Werkself are at least part of the extended circle of title contenders. Up to this point it has been a fabulous season that will be crowned in the next few weeks.
In the latest episode of the podcast “Einfach mal Luppen” by Toni and Felix Kroos, Andrich talks about Bayer’s strengths. Firstly, he says, the Werkself have “a brutally broad squad”. Secondly, and he particularly emphasizes this, the players who are behind also perform well when they play – and he is one of them, as are some of his other colleagues.
Andrich praises Bayer’s great flexibility
In fact, this is a big bargaining chip for coach Xabi Alonso, who always has several options. He “has an idea and rotates accordingly,” explains Andrich. “The basic idea is the same,” but the approach is always slightly adapted. “In one game we need players who are good between the lines. In the other game we need players who can go deep because the opponent is brutally high.” Andrich said that Leverkusen can adapt to every opponent in terms of tactics and personnel.
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This is also where Bayer’s great self-confidence comes from. Without this trust in one’s own strength, which can be considered certain, such a triumph would not be possible. The Werkself remain calm, even when a game doesn’t go according to their expectations, and have shone with consistency so far – and should soon celebrate their first championship title. Or?
Andrich doesn’t seem to have any doubts about that. And so he answers Felix Kroos’ question about what title it would be: “The championship definitely – without being arrogant.” At this moment, Andrich seems to be considering whether he should put it so offensively or not. But, he says: When it comes to the point difference and Bayer’s consistency, it’s about nothing else.
Will Xabi Alonso stay? Andrich estimates the chances at “50:50”
“It would be nonsense to talk about anything else,” explains the Bayer professional and is unlikely to be met with a storm of indignation. The facts are on the table. According to Andrich, the summit meeting with FC Bayern, which Bayer won 3-0 in February, was one with a signal effect, although the victory in Heidenheim (2-1) a week later may have been even more important. Because: “If you lose the game and Bayern win, the win before was worth nothing.” Logical.
Leverkusen, however, continued their successful run, even extended their points lead in the following weeks and now have to bring it to the finish line in the remaining duels. The fact that the Werkself have been repeatedly bothered with questions about Xabi Alonso and his future for weeks has not seemed to bother them so far.
It’s “a coincidence that Liverpool is looking for a new coach, the coach at Bayern is no longer there in the summer. That doesn’t make it any easier,” says Andrich. Xabi Alonso himself knows the business and knows “that people will talk about it. He knows that something can happen, but he doesn’t bring it to the team,” emphasizes Bayer’s number 8.
Everyone knows “that it is possible that he will leave the club. But it doesn’t matter to us because we also have a lot of people who have been in the business for a long time,” affirms the national player. The possible next career steps for this coach are “not that bad,” so he estimates his chances of staying at “50:50.” Regardless, Andrich doesn’t want to be distracted by it. After all, there is still a lot to do in this special season. At association and club level.
2024-03-22 11:34:00
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