Xabi Alonso went 462 days without a defeat in Germany with Bayer Leverkusen. That streak came to an end on Saturday against RB Leipzig. It was an adjustment for the Spanish coach, who was particularly curious to see how his team would respond.
"Our streak lasted a long time, but now it has really come to an end," Alonso said in the German media about the 2-3 defeat against RB Leipzig.
Bayer Leverkusen had managed to go 462 days without a defeat in the Bundesliga, a remarkable achievement for any team. Under Alonso's guidance, Die Werkself had displayed resilience and determination, often finding a way to win or draw games even when not at their best. This impressive run, however, had shown signs of fragility in recent matches, with Leverkusen often scraping through by narrow margins or last-minute goals. The game against RB Leipzig finally ended this run, bringing an abrupt halt to their unbeaten streak.
"For me, it is very interesting to see how we respond to this loss. In that regard, it's a shame that an international break is coming up, but I have no reason to believe that we won't bounce back from this," Alonso continued, expressing his curiosity and optimism about his team's ability to recover from setbacks. The Spanish coach emphasized that such moments could serve as valuable learning experiences for the squad, helping them grow stronger as the season progresses.
The coach found the loss unnecessary, as Leverkusen had established a solid 2-0 lead early in the match. However, they conceded a crucial goal in the seventh minute of injury time in the first half, which allowed RB Leipzig to get back into the game. "After that goal, the game was wide open," acknowledged Alonso, reflecting on how the momentum shifted. "We have to learn from such mistakes. We gave the opponent the chance to come back into the match after a 2-0 lead. That is not good, especially when it happens twice in a row."
This wasn't the first time Leverkusen had found themselves in such a situation. Against Borussia Mönchengladbach just a week earlier, the reigning German champions had also let a 0-2 lead slip away. On that occasion, they were fortunate as Florian Wirtz managed to score the winning goal deep into injury time, salvaging a 3-2 victory and extending their unbeaten streak. However, the pattern of losing control over games despite having a comfortable lead was becoming a concerning trend.
This time, however, the late goal that could have rescued them never came, and the unbeaten run in Germany came to a definitive end. The match against RB Leipzig exposed vulnerabilities in Leverkusen's defense and highlighted the importance of maintaining concentration throughout the entire 90 minutes. Alonso recognized these issues and was determined to address them moving forward.
"We have to learn from these mistakes," Alonso reiterated. "But it is a process; we are still early in the season." He stressed that his team is still in the early stages of their campaign and that there is plenty of time to make adjustments and improve. The international break, although poorly timed in some respects, could also provide an opportunity for the team to regroup and refocus on their goals for the season.
Alonso's leadership will be crucial as Leverkusen looks to bounce back from this defeat and continue their quest for success in the Bundesliga. The team's response to this setback will be a true test of their character and resolve, and Alonso is eager to see how his players rise to the challenge.
