Alonso’s men dropped two points, but won’t drop their tools just yet

The question had to come. Would the Bayer Leverkusen players become nervous after the unfortunate 0-0 draw against Monchengladbach with only a two-point lead over pursuers Bayern Munich?If the preceding 90 minutes had already shown that the Werkself continued their game undeterred despite the lack of goals and only failed due to their wastefulness in front of goal with a scoreline of 10-1 in chances, then after the match, coach Xabi Alonso also emphasized that the first disappointment of the new year would not affect Leverkusen’s self-confidence – and consequently, not the nerves of the league leaders.Alonso exuded great calm when asked about possible nerves. The World and European champion explained almost with a weary smile.”There are still 15 matchdays to go. If I were to get nervous now, I’d be worn out by May! Now I’m completely calm. Today was a pity. It wasn’t the first and maybe not the last time. We analyze, but we won’t get nervous. We remain completely calm.”This season, Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen became the first team in German football history to remain unbeaten after the first 25 games of a campaign across all competitions.The heir to Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool throne? 👑 pic.twitter.com/QPiNSqsMEf— Squawka (@Squawka) January 26, 2024 In this regard, the Basque sets the tone for his players at Bayer. Forward Jonas Hofmann similarly interpreted the goalless draw.”I wouldn’t call it a setback, but it’s two lost points. That’s how you have to say it. But Xabi already said it in the dressing room: We won’t be negative in any way.”Earlier, Leverkusen’s sporting director Simon Rolfes had already commented on the mental consequences of the two dropped points. He spoke of “disappointment because we wanted to win, of course. But these things happen.””We will continue to work as we have done before: train well, prepare ourselves, and then get the three points in the next game against Darmstadt. Nothing will change, whether we won today or played a draw. We will continue in the same way.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7828760##He simply refuses to look to Munich at the budding hopes of Leverkusen’s nervousness there. “That didn’t interest me two weeks ago, and it doesn’t interest me now. We focus on ourselves. And we will score goals again.”BUNDESLIGA – MATCHDAY 19FridayEintracht Frankfurt – Mainz 1-0 (0-0)/Gotze 73/Saturday Augsburg – Bayern 2-3 (0-2)/Demirovic 52, 94 – Pavlovic 23, Davies 45+5, Kane 58/Hoffenheim – Heidenheim 1-1 (1-1)/Kramaric 45+7 pen – Dinkci 29/Stuttgart – RB Leipzig 5-2 (2-1)/Millot 25 pen, Undav 30, 56, 75, Leweling 48 – Sesko 32, Openda 55/Werder – Freiburg 2-1 (1-1)/Ducksch 9, Njinmah 53, Malatini 90+3 – Grifo 28 pen/Wolfsburg – Koln 1-1 (1-1)/Paredes 40 – Alidou 38/Leverkusen – Monchengladbach 0-0Sunday 17.30: (1.65) Union Berlin (4.00) Darmstadt (6.00)19.30: (1.35) Dortmund (5.30) Bochum (8.00)***odds are subject to change

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