Bayer Leverkusen master coach
Alonso rejects honorary citizenship in Leverkusen
Status: 6:50 p.m. | Reading time: 2 minutes
Leverkusen’s winning streak continues – 1-1 in Dortmund
Bayer Leverkusen has continued its splendid winning streak and is now unbeaten in 45 competitive games. Thanks to Josip Stanisic’s goal in the 7th minute of added time, the new German football champions secured a 1-1 (0-0) draw at Borussia Dortmund on Sunday.
German champion yes, honorary citizen no. The makers of Bayer 04 Leverkusen around coach Xabi Alonso are foregoing a special offer from the city of Leverkusen. The reason for the rejection should flatter the city.
The series should also last against VfB Stuttgart (Saturday, 6.30 p.m. on Sky and in the WELT live ticker). Bayer 04 Leverkusen is well on its way to playing a perfect season without defeat. The team, which secured the first championship in the club’s history with a 5-0 win against Werder Bremen on matchday 29, has been unbeaten in 44 games this season.
The game against third-placed Stuttgart is the first after the championship celebration against Werder. After the victory, the euphoric fans stormed the pitch to celebrate the title. “I haven’t been back on the pitch myself yet. But I spoke to the greenkeeper and he said: ‘It’s not perfect, but it’s good,'” said Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso. “It is important that we have good conditions despite the celebration. We need a good pitch on Saturday and we also need it two weeks later against Roma,” said the former World and European champion. Bayer will welcome the traditional Italian club on May 9th for the semi-final second leg of the Europa League.
Master, but not an honorary citizen – Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso
Source: AP/Martin Meissner
Leverkusen is already German champion. The team also has the best prospects of winning the Europa League and the DFB Cup. On May 25th, Bayer will face second division team 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the final. For the city of Leverkusen, the current wave of success is reason enough to name Alonso and sports director Simon Rolfes honorary citizens.
“Bayer feels sufficiently honored”
But Alonso and Rolfes, as well as managing director Fernando Carro and the chairman of the shareholders’ committee, Werner Wenning, forgo this honor. The city of Leverkusen announced this on Friday.
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Mayor Uwe Richrath (SPD) had submitted a council proposal to grant honorary citizenship to Wenning, Carro, Rolfes and Alonso. According to the city’s announcement, there have recently been “some discussions” about this project, which were not specified in more detail. “Bayer 04 feels sufficiently honored by the euphoria in the city of Leverkusen and the outstanding support from the fans and would like to thank them for the numerous congratulations,” it continued.
