Xabi Alonso made a dream debut at Bayer Leverkusen. In his first game as the new head coach, the Werkself celebrated a 4-0 (2-0) win against Schalke 04.
Xabi Alonso left the site of the impressive debut very quickly. The Spanish football coach, who has been Bayer Leverkusen’s new head coach since Wednesday, celebrated a 4-0 (2-0) win against newly promoted Schalke 04 on his debut at Bayer 04 and quickly disappeared into the dressing room.
“I’m very happy, but it’s just a game. We have to work a lot, every day,” said Alonso on Sky, “but football isn’t mathematics.” In any case, the Rhinelanders showed a completely different face than last.
“He made a good speech to the boys,” reported sporting director Simon Rolfes, “he wants to make everyone a little better in order to make the whole thing better.” The outstanding Moussa Diaby (38′) with his first goal of the season, Jeremie Frimpong (41’/53′) and Paulinho (90′) scored for the hosts and let their new coach celebrate for the first time in the Bundesliga.
Only on Wednesday was the former world and European champion Alonso signed as the successor to the unsuccessful Gerardo Seoane from Bayer. “It was a first step,” summed up Rolfes. The next must follow, because Bayer is still lagging far behind its own claims.
Moussa Diaby sets up both frimpong goals
Midfielder Robert Andrich analyzed: “The conversion of chances was different than in the last games. We had a better allocation in space and played the spaces that Schalke gave us.” Alonso repeatedly sought contact with his protégés during the game and was in the coaching zone a lot. And the Bayer pros put the advice Alonso gave them in his meeting into practice.
The Bavarian, who started the season disastrously, overtook Schalke and left the relegation zone – for Knappen trainer Frank Kramer, on the other hand, the air is likely to get thinner and thinner after the next playful oath of disclosure.
The 2010 world champions sent their side onto the field in a 3-4-2-1 formation, making only one change from the 2-0 defeat at FC Porto in the Champions League under his predecessor: Mitchel Bakker came on for Adam Hlozek on the starting grid.
Bayer dominated the game and repeatedly came close to goal on the right – Diaby failed after six minutes from a promising position on the side netting. Alonso gesticulated a lot and loudly drove his team on – in the third minute he left his coaching zone for the first time out of zeal.
Leverkusen remained the clearly superior team and were rewarded twice for the effort shortly before the break: Diaby walked unhindered through the Schalke back line and scored from around 20 meters on the top right to open the scoring. Only 160 seconds later he then shone as a preparer for Frimpong, who deliberately made it 2-0 from a tight angle.
The frighteningly harmless Schalke, who were supported by numerous away fans, did not recover from the shock before the break. In the 42nd minute, a header from Simon Terodde was the visitors’ first goal approach.
The second half began as the first had ended with Leverkusen’s offensive joy: Diaby prepared again, Frimpong executed again – this time from a central position free in front of Schalke keeper Alexander Schwolow. In the closing stages, Paulinho increased the score to 4-0.
Bayer Leverkusen – Schalke 04: The voices
Xabi Alonso (Bayer Leverkusen manager): “We’re happy. We didn’t have a lot of time but the players saw how we wanted to play. It was a complete performance – attacking and defending. Wednesday is the next important game against Porto and there’s still a lot to improve.”
Frank Kramer (Schalke 04 coach): “Today we were the clearly inferior team. We couldn’t defend Bayer’s pace and didn’t achieve what we set out to do. We have to analyze that clearly and do better in the next game.”
Bayer Leverkusen – Schalke 04: The data for the game
