Xabi Alonso From "Leverkusen" to "Neverlosing"

By SoccerSat Team

Bayer Leverkusen is miraculously STILL unbeaten this season. When Xabi Alonso took over at the German club, they were languishing in 17th place after a poor run. The Xabi Alonso revolution is in full effect. Now it looks like Leverkusen might just break the 'Never losing' curse and collect their first Bundesliga title. All under the management of a coach who hasn't managed at a senior level before. This is the unlikely story of the Xabi Alonso Revolution. Enjoy!

Alonso's Leverkusen are arguably the best team in Europe playing through the middle. In this article, we explore the key individual, group and team tactics that enable his side to do so.

Alonso's football influences and background

Alonso has been influenced by top coaches such as Pep as a player at Bayern, Mourinho during his time at Real Madrid and Benitez during his time at Liverpool, and given his legendary status in Liverpool and Klopp's departure at the end of the season, he will naturally have strong links to take the job this summer.

Surprisingly, one of the most important attacking players in the squad actually plays a key role in Leverkusen's defence Under Alonso, Leverkusen use a flexible defensive formation, switching between a 523 and a 442 or a 4411 depending on the phase of the game or the opposition. Leverkusen is able to defend flexibly depending on the circumstances of the match, such as the phase of the game or the quality of the opponent, by switching the back five to a back four. For example, switching to a 433 allows for a more aggressive press as the midfield numbers are increased and can be made even more aggressive by Wirtz pushing up, forming a skeleton defence. However, Frimpong's tendency to be slow to recover defensively can leave the far post vulnerable to opposition crosses. In these phases of the game, the transition to a back four involves the right centre-back covering and acting as a right-back. Particularly in high pressing situations, where Leverkusen's midfielders may find themselves outnumbered by only two midfielders, for example when playing against a 433. One solution Alonso seems to have is to switch to a 442 or a 4411, with one of the strikers marking the opposition's central defensive midfielder.

Somewhat surprisingly, given his reputation for world-class attacking play, Wirtz actually plays a vital role in the defensive phases of the game, often marking several players, particularly the opposition's central defensive midfielder, and applying controlled pressure. He makes effective use of marking shadows to disrupt the opposition's rhythm and draw them away.

Offensive tactics

So how does Alonso's squad consistently play through the center? Regardless of whether they are playing with a three or four at the back, a key aspect of the game seems to be the double pivot, always looking for the ball in front of the centre backs. This not only creates more passing angles, but also ensures that there are enough players back to prevent or defend against an opposition counter-attack in the event of a lost ball. Encourages dynamic play, with Leverkusen's attacking approach varying according to what appears to be attacking play through the centre. Whenever the opportunity arises, the emphasis is on aggressive vertical line-breaking passes when the receiving player has space to turn Leverkusen's defenders are well trained to find the most progressive but still low-risk option. This is effective in drawing the opposition out, as Leverkusen's midfielders are able to turn in tight spaces if there is not enough pressure, but the defenders are also able and willing to play these progressive passes if the central midfielders are under too much pressure. Even when direct progression is not possible, Leverkusen will often play the ball into the feet of players coming down to receive the ball, to keep the ball moving and draw the opposition out.

These bounce passes are almost a precursor to the pass that the person with the ball was going to play. If the person with the ball wants this player on the ball, you can play a bounce pass with this player to create the space for the pass that was originally intended. If the ball is played further up the pitch, the midfield can be overloaded with two players almost in the number 10 position. Position To achieve this, Alonso plays with narrow centre backs, which is perhaps unusual when playing with a back three, but this makes it difficult for the opposition to press as they also have passing options close to them. The initial passes through the centre also help to create space out wide and change the attacking angle. Another important aspect of the attack is Wirtz's ability and relentless determination to position himself between the lines and the ball. This is another reason why Leverkusen's attack is so unpredictable and devastating. Possession is valued but not overemphasised at Leverkusen, especially in the final third. For example, Boniface and Frimpong are encouraged to go 1v1 and Wirtz to play through balls, both of which result in Leverkusen losing possession a significant amount of the time. The team's attacking shape often resembles a 325 in build-up phases, with the number of holding midfielders varying according to the depth of the game and the inside forwards acting as central midfielders.

Another of Leverkusen's strengths is their tactical flexibility, which makes it difficult for opposing teams to defend. The left flank is actually more flexible than the right, especially when both Grimaldo and Hofman are playing at the same time, as both are capable of playing in the centre or out wide. Perhaps unexpectedly for a full-back, one of Grimaldo's strengths is his shooting ability. The combination play through the centre also helps him get into good shooting positions, which is another weapon that Leverkusen tend to use.

When did Alonso take over Leverkusen?

Leverkusen was in 17th place in the standings when Alonso took over in October 2022. Since then, they have achieved a club record with 10 straight wins between Matchdays 20 and 29. They finished the 2022–2023 season in sixth place, and they have only gotten better since.

Conclusion

Alonso's Leverkusen recently broke the record for the longest unbeaten run in the Bundesliga, and their ruthless attacking and disciplined defensive record is no surprise given the tactical prowess Alonso has managed to instil in his players, and they look set to knock Bayern out of the title race for the first time in 11 seasons.