Xabi Alonso reflects on Leverkusen's scoreless standoff with Wolfsburg

By SABC Sport
10th February 2025

Bayer Leverkusen's quest for victory was halted by a resilient Wolfsburg side, resulting in a 0-0 stalemate in the Bundesliga over the weekend.

Despite the lack of goals, Leverkusen's manager Xabi Alonso expressed contentment with his team's performance, highlighting their strategy and effort.

Leverkusen, sitting in second place in the Bundesliga with 46 points, are still chasing league leaders Bayern Munich, who have amassed 54 points from 21 matches.

Alonso outlined the tactical approach, noting, "The second half was a bit better for us, and that was our plan, to work in the first half and maybe have a good impact in the second half," he said after the match.

"In the end, we couldn't get the win, but I think the result is fair. I'm happy with the team, we tried, and it is not easy to come to Wolfsburg."

The match saw Leverkusen making significant changes to their lineup, with eight players from the starting XI in their previous game against Koln being rested.

Alonso defended his squad rotation, stating, "You can always analyze after the game is over, but I have to analyze before the game, and I thought that these players could play well against Wolfsburg. They were ready and are on a good level. That's our dynamic, and I've decided on this. I won't change my idea."

One key substitution was the introduction of young star Florian Wirtz in the second half, following his heavy involvement in the previous match. "It was a big game (against Koln), and he made a big effort over 120 minutes. We want to help Flo in the best way possible, and the idea was to play him in the second half if needed," Alonso elaborated.

"He had a good impact with the penalty that wasn't given and the chance at the end of the game."

Despite not clinching the win, Alonso's focus remains on maintaining positivity and progression within the team. "We had the will and the hunger to win, and we'll continue. We're on a good path, the dynamic is good, and we'll stay positive," he concluded.

This result keeps Leverkusen in the thick of the title race, with their next challenge coming against a different opponent looking to disrupt their momentum.