Coach Xabi Alonso reacted irritably to his fourth yellow card and the associated suspension for Bayer Leverkusen’s next Bundesliga game.
“I don’t understand the yellow card that well, to be honest,” said the Spaniard after the 2-2 (0-0) draw against VfB Stuttgart. But you have to “accept” referee Felix Zwayer’s decision.
There was a discussion with the referee team and the opposing bench, “but with respect,” said Alonso, who, like VfB coach Sebastian Hoeneß, was warned in the 70th minute: “There was passion and emotion on the bench. Nothing special happened.”
The Stuttgart team around national player Deniz Undav had also complained about Zwayer’s performance – and chose a much harsher tone.
Alonso will still be missing from the Werkself in the away game at Eintracht Frankfurt next Sunday (5.30 p.m./DAZN). However, it was not his first suspension as a coach, the 42-year-old reported. As coach of the second team at Real Sociedad San Sebastian, he has already had to serve a suspension once.
The Bayer professionals took it with humor. Whether leader Granit Xhaka could step in as player-coach in Frankfurt? “I think it’s still too early for that,” joked national player Robert Andrich: “He’ll have to serve a few more hours.”
2024-04-28 08:41:38
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