Bayer Leverkusen is the champion of Germany for the first time in their history! The Reds defeated Werder Bremen 5-0 thanks to the goals of Boniface (25′), Xhaka (60′) and Wirtz’s triple (68′, 83′, 90′), being declared champions with 5 weeks of advance, in the 29th of the Bundesliga . Incredible journey for Xabi Alonso’s side, who equaled Antonio Conte’s Juventus unbeaten run (43). The Meisterschale 2023/24 belongs to the Aspirins and immediately all the fans invaded the field, for a crazy party.
One hundred and twenty years without a Meisterschale, with just two trophies in their palmares: the 1988 UEFA Cup and the 1993 German Cup. Neverkusen’s reputation, however, was born after the extraordinary 2001/02 season, when, from a potential treble, the club of the Ruhr found itself with nothing. Then Xabi Alonso arrived and Bayer Leverkusen could even achieve the treble (with the Europa League instead of the more prestigious Champions League trophy).
Meanwhile. Bayer brought home the first championship in its history, combining results with aesthetically valuable football. And then there are the numbers: no defeat in 43 games of the season, the semi-finals of the Europa League (with the final secured after 2-0 to West Ham) and the final of the German Cup. To all these must be added the games won or overturned in the finals, demonstrating a mental strength worthy of the greats.
ALONSO’S TACTICS
Xabi Alonso, a bet of the club, having only managed Real Madrid’s youth teams and Real Sociedad’s B team, had teachers of absolute value in his career: Benitez, Pellegrini, Mourinho, Ancelotti, Guardiola and Del Bosque . Basically all world football knowledge. His tactical creed could only be a mixture of many different ideas. His Bayer utilized the principles of positional and relative football, with a fluidity that could be seen from the start of the action. Starting from 4-2-3-1, “aspirins” can be built with a 3+2 or a 2+4.
Certainly, in the early stages, set up in three, with Stanisic, or Kossounou, rising on the right and Grimaldo, the left winger, squeezing in next to Tah, Tapsoba or Hincapié. Consequently, Frimpong rises in midfield, blocking the opposing winger. The rest is made up of the midfield foursome, with Palacios and Xhaka in a further position, and Wirtz and Hofmann, or Adli, occupying the midfield. All this only on a theoretical level, because the interpreters of the magic square exchange positions, approaching from the center or from the outside to take advantage of close exchanges, in the offensive phase, and to be ready for immediate recovery, in the defensive phase.
In short, Xabi Alonso showed how the aesthetic quality of the maneuver can be combined with effectiveness in both phases. These days, that’s no small feat.
