Leverkusen's unbeaten streak marches on: Xabi Alonso lauds team's resilience
Bayer Leverkusen's march through the Europa League continued as they secured a spot in the semi-finals with a 3-1 aggregate win over West Ham United.
This result extends their unbeaten streak to a staggering 44 matches across all competitions.
Despite a rocky start with Michail Antonio's early goal, Leverkusen rallied in the second half, showcasing their trademark resilience. Substitute Jeremie Frimpong's late strike sealed their fate, ending the match 1-1 and propelling them to the next stage of the tournament.
Coach Xabi Alonso, reflecting on the challenging encounter to TNT Sports, praised his team's mental fortitude, stating, “Not to show a soft mentality in a tough moment is very important... it was the key for not conceding the second or third goal.” This sentiment underscores Leverkusen's ability to weather storms and emerge stronger.
Alonso, cognizant of the trials that accompany European competition, emphasized the significance of navigating difficult moments, attributing their impressive unbeaten run to diligent work.
“The records (unbeaten run) are a consequence of a good job,” he remarked, acknowledging the collective effort behind Leverkusen's success.
With their eyes set on European glory, Leverkusen now turn their attention to a challenging semi-final clash against AS Roma. The first leg is slated for May 2, promising another test of their mettle on the continental stage.
Meanwhile, Leverkusen's domestic campaign continues unabated as they gear up to face Borussia Dortmund in a Bundesliga showdown this Sunday at Signal Iduna Park.