DUESSELDORF, Germany (AP) — One more win. That’s all that separates Xabi Alonso and Bayer Leverkusen from the German title.
Leverkusen is ready to shed the tag of “Neverkusen” from five previous runner-up finishes and overcome the talent and financial might of Bayern Munich.
The title would be a testament to the seemingly unshakable self-belief in a team which was in the relegation zone when Alonso took over as coach in October 2022.
“In many key games during the season we have had this mentality, this character to come back, not to give up in difficult situations and that means a lot,” Alonso said Wednesday. “That says a lot about the team spirit that we have had the whole year.”
Beating Werder Bremen on Sunday would ensure second-place Bayern Munich cannot catch Leverkusen and give Alonso’s team its first title in a season which could yet end with a treble of Bundesliga, German Cup and Europa League.
With 24 wins and four draws, Leverkusen is also six games away from being the first team to finish an entire Bundesliga campaign unbeaten.
Leverkusen could even win the league before kickoff if Bayern — which lost to Heidenheim last week — is beaten by relegation-threatened Cologne on Saturday and third-place Stuttgart also loses to Eintracht Frankfurt.
Leverkusen’s improbable unbeaten run in the Bundesliga this season is welcome news for many German soccer fans tired of Bayern’s 11-year run of dominance in the league.
Some, though, have reservations that the club ending Bayern’s streak isn’t majority-controlled by members like most German teams under the so-called 50+1 rule, but by the Bayer pharmaceutical company, where it originated as a workers’ team.
Even before the season ends, speculation is starting about how much of Alonso’s squad will stay for next season. Almost every player in the starting lineup could be in demand from other top clubs in Europe. Their bond with Alonso, who has confirmed he is staying despite interest from Liverpool and Bayern Munich, might help glue the team together, at least for a while.
“Everybody has a good feeling, everybody loves the coach. You guys can see it on the pitch. We’re all happy. The coach likes working with us. We all just have this connection, together this is what makes the team,” wing back Jeremie Frimpong said Wednesday.
“Since he’s come he’s changed Leverkusen … When he announced he was staying we were all happy, we did a big cheer.”
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