If we look to history books, a whole load of teams in Europe were better than Bayer Leverkusen, but if we look at this season, no other team can match “Die Werkself”. The football season is coming to it‘s final third and Xabi Alonso‘s men are yet to taste defeat in any competition! Just like, for example Liverpool, Bayer is also on course for a possible triplet: Bundesliga, German Cup and Europa League. They are facing second league Fortuna in the Cup semi-final, while the Azerbaijan‘s Qarabag is the easiest possible opponent in the Round of 16 in Europa League. Off course, the biggest prize is the possible first-ever Bundesliga title. After breaking record last week with 33 games unbeaten (now 34), they surpassed Hansi Flick’s Bayern Munich team of 2020 and 2021 in the record books. The only difference is, Die Werkself have achieved the feat inside a single campaign, which makes it even more impressive.Only Pep and Flick standing on Xabi’s path to Bundesliga gloryWith a win over Cologne and Bayern‘s 2-2 draw with Freiburg, Leverkusen are now 10 points clear at the top of the table. Considering the team‘s form and results, the title is almost won, but there is a certain player and a certain team which prevents them from putting the foot off the paddle. Granit Xhaka and Arsenal. Former Gunners captain is now playing in Bayer and his traumatic experience from the last season in England is something which keeps him focused. “It’s good and we can be proud of it, but nothing is won yet. I’m speaking about my own experience of what happened last season. I think it was similar points over second and we didn’t win the league so I know the experience and this is what I share with the dressing room as well. Of course ten points is a lot in football when you have ten games left but ten points when there’s another 30 points you can take, it’s not over” said the Swiss international. Granit Xhaka made a total of 28 final third entries against FC Köln yesterday, no player has made more in a Bundesliga match this season. 🔑 pic.twitter.com/dpBzIvF1v8— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) March 4, 2024 He is off course referring to the Arsenal‘s famous title chase during which the Gunners ‘bottled it‘ and lost the race to Manchester City. Despite being 248 days at the top of the Premier League table in the 2022/23 season – including leading by eight points as late as January 28th – a series of bad results allowed Manchester City to win in the end, and that is something Xhaka is repeating his teammates all the time. “They know, they’re asking me day by day, ‘you’ve been in this situation as well, how was it what happened’ I tried to explain it but you can’t explain with words, you have to feel it, that’s why you have to stay humble you have to take it day by day and let’s see where we are after 34 games” explains former Gunner. And so far, he is succeeding. ##NAJAVA_MECA_7919555##
