Xabi Alonso is readying his Bayer Leverkusen squad for what he considers to be a formidable challenge against West Ham in the upcoming Europa League quarter-final.
In his first full season as a first-team manager, Leverkusen has excelled, leading the Bundesliga table by a remarkable 16 points over champions Bayern Munich, while also contending for honors in the German cup and European competitions.
Last month, Alonso put an end to speculation surrounding his future, confirming his commitment to remain in charge amid interest from Liverpool and Bayern Munich.
Despite the persistent rumors potentially becoming a distraction, the 42-year-old Spaniard is focused on the challenging task ahead as his team prepares to host West Ham at the BayArena for the first leg of what promises to be an enthralling encounter.
The Hammers, last season’s Europa Conference League victors, secured their spot in the quarter-finals with an impressive 5-1 aggregate triumph over Freiburg.
‘All their players are experienced. Bowen might be injured tomorrow, [Lucas] Paqueta is a great player, [Tomas] Soucek, [Michail] Antonio, [Mohammed] Kudus, there are a lot of players that we know,’ the Leverkusen boss told reporters.
‘[Konstantinos] Mavropanos, [Kurt] Zouma, they are all physically very strong players, good on the ball.
‘They won the Europa Conference League last season so they have experience in Europe so they know how to play well.
‘They can be patient, they can be defensive, we are aware of all of that for tomorrow and we want to control the match.’
Alonso emphasizes the physical strength and technical prowess of West Ham’s players, including Konstantinos Mavropanos and Kurt Zouma, while acknowledging their experience in European competitions. With the Premier League renowned for its competitiveness, Alonso stresses the need for his Leverkusen side to approach the two-legged tie with respect and caution.
Acknowledging the Premier League’s reputation for competitiveness, Alonso recognizes the challenge posed by West Ham, describing it as a “big challenge” for his team. Leverkusen is looking forward to continuing their successful season and views the tie against West Ham as an opportunity to progress further in the competition.
‘For sure, the Premier League is, if not the most, one of the most competitive leagues in the world. You have not just a few teams, it could be seven or eight teams, that have top, top squads, hard to beat,’ he added.
‘I’ve spoken regularly with coaches there and they know that each game is really tough to prepare, tough to play and you have to play maybe three or four games in a row against top, top teams.
‘It’s a very exciting competition with so many great players, great coaches, great clubs, great stadiums, and West Ham is one of them for sure.
‘We are facing them with great respect but with great excitement that we have a great chance to go through.
‘We want to keep going in a great season and it’s a big challenge that we have against West Ham.’
Regarding Victor Boniface’s fitness, Alonso confirms the forward’s readiness to start after making a substitute appearance in Leverkusen’s recent victories over Dusseldorf and Union Berlin. Having missed 14 games due to injury, Boniface’s return provides Leverkusen with another attacking option as they aim to overcome West Ham over the two legs.
Alonso’s tenure at Leverkusen has been marked by success, with the club’s commanding lead in the Bundesliga serving as a testament to his managerial prowess. Despite interest from other clubs, Alonso remains committed to his role at Leverkusen, determined to lead the team to further achievements in domestic and European competitions.
As Leverkusen prepares to face West Ham in the Europa League quarter-finals, Alonso is confident in his squad’s abilities but acknowledges the challenge posed by their opponents. With both teams vying for a place in the semi-finals, the tie promises to be fiercely contested, with Leverkusen eager to showcase their quality on the European stage.
Alonso’s strategic approach and tactical acumen have been key factors in Leverkusen’s success this season, and he will be relied upon to guide the team through the challenges that lie ahead in the Europa League quarter-final against West Ham.
With Leverkusen’s sights set on silverware, Alonso’s leadership will be crucial as they look to navigate their way through the latter stages of the competition.