Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso is defiant about his team’s chances of reaching the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals, despite needing to overcome a huge deficit against Bayern Munich.
The Spanish tactician saw his side capitulate to a 3-0 scoreline against the Bavarians in the reverse fixture last week but he is hopeful of overturning the deficit when hostilities resume at the Bay Arena.
Alonso said: “It’s a good moment to show that we are a complete team and that we can win without Flo [Wirtz] and also for him, that we can advance in the Champions League so he can play again in the competition this season. There’s no bigger test than tomorrow without Flo (Wirtz).”
“We and the fans have to believe from the first second that we can do it. It’s a game that can stay for a long time in our history. We have to play with heart, passion, intensity and aggressiveness. It’s a chance that we might not get again in our careers – so we have to try everything until the end. Of course we know how difficult it is — but sometimes, something epic can be created out of a difficult situation.”
“We are in a position where we have nothing to lose. Only Bayern can lose something tomorrow. 100% of Bayern fans believe that they’ll go through. I’m sure not many Bochum fans believed [they could win] after the 2-0 [against Bayern], but they came back and won. Many unexpected things happen in football, and it could happen again tomorrow.”
“We won the Bundesliga unbeaten. For me that’s probably more difficult [than a comeback tomorrow]. So the team can do difficult things. The players know and feel that, which is important. A situation that goes our way, a first goal can have a big influence tomorrow. We have to find and provoke these situations.”