Alonso before decision: Is he leaving Bayer Leverkusen towards Madrid?

Alonso before decision: Is he leaving Bayer Leverkusen towards Madrid?

After the disappointing 1-1 draw against FC St. Pauli, Xabi Alonso, the coach of Bayer Leverkusen, was concerned about the performance of his team. In the middle of this critical phase of his coaching career, he thanked the 3,000 fans who traveled with them for their support. However, it is unclear whether this moment of gratitude is one of the last opportunities for the supporters to see Alonso in Leverkusen, because he could leave the club in four weeks after he has been on the sidelines for almost three years.

Alonso is the top candidate for the successor of Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid, who is currently under pressure due to the poor performance of his team. Ancelotti has to deal with speculation about his future after a bitter 0: 3 defeat against Arsenal in the UEFA Champions League. He has a contract until the end of 2025/26 and emphasizes that his future will not be decided by him alone. Alonso himself also has a contract with Bayer Leverkusen by 2026, but could possibly switch to a top club prematurely. A transfer for him would probably be in the double -digit million range if Real Madrid should be seriously interested in him.

future questions at Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen is in a difficult location in the Bundesliga, since the team is five points behind the leaders Bayern Munich, but has already played one more game. The Leverkusener CEO Fernando Carro expressed the wish that Real Madrid Arsenal had defeated Arsenal to weaken the ongoing rumors about Alonso. Before the end of the season, the club expects a clear commitment from Alonso to its future, since the planning for the next season is already in full swing.

In the second half of the season, the team's belief seems to have been lost in their own strengths. In the last appearances, such as the clear 4-1 win in Frankfurt on March 1, the team was much more convincing. Alonso emphasizes the need to accept the situation and get better in the remaining four games. These could possibly be the last four games from Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, where he already won three titles in his time and was undefeated master.

The pressure on coaching change

Change of coaches are common in modern football, especially if the results do not meet expectations. Studies show that an exchange of the trainer can in many cases lead to a short -term increase in performance. Sebastian Zart, a sports scientist at the TU Kaiserslautern, found that about half of the studies show a positive effect. The increase in performance can last up to 16 game days after a change, which raises the question of whether Bayern Leverkusen may consider a similar solution if the sporting situation does not improve.

for Alonso and Leverkusen, it remains crucial to master the challenges of the upcoming games and at the same time clarify the uncertainties in relation to the future. A clear course is needed to not only successfully complete the current season, but also to create a solid basis for the next.