Alonso Urges Leverkusen to Move On from Bayern Defeat

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso says his team must quickly move on from their 3-0 Champions League defeat to Bayern Munich and focus on their Bundesliga campaign.

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has urged his players to adopt a professional mindset and swiftly put their disappointing 3-0 Champions League loss to Bayern Munich behind them. The team is now shifting its focus to their upcoming Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen.

On Wednesday, Leverkusen suffered a humbling defeat at the hands of Bayern, marking their first loss to the Bavarian giants since Alonso took the reins in October 2022. The setback has all but extinguished Leverkusen's hopes of advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals.

Xabi Alonso emphasized that his team cannot afford to dwell on their disappointment and must instead refocus their attention on the Bundesliga. Leverkusen, the defending champions, currently sit second in the standings, eight points behind Bayern. Alonso urged his team to adopt a professional mindset and concentrate on their upcoming match.

Alonso addressed the media ahead of their home match against Werder Bremen on Saturday, stating, “The mood today is better than yesterday. We discussed everything as usual, we have to be professional and focus on the next game.” He emphasized the importance of taking every competition seriously, saying, “Today was our first and last training session in preparation for tomorrow. We want to take every competition very seriously and now the Bundesliga is next on the agenda.”

We'll keep battling until the end 💪#B04SVW | @CocaCola_De pic.twitter.com/HxCvvxBQbD

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) March 7, 2025

Alonso expressed optimism about Leverkusen's prospects in the Bundesliga, saying, “We are in a position where a lot can still happen and everything is open...” He also downplayed concerns about switching between the Champions League and Bundesliga, commenting, “We're used to switching between the Champions League and Bundesliga, so it shouldn't be a problem for us.” Alonso emphasized the need for fresh legs and a clear head, saying, “We need fresh legs and a clear head, no matter who we're playing and in which competition. We want to go full throttle every game.”

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso provided an update on midfielder Robert Andrich's availability for their upcoming match against Werder Bremen, stating, “He still has the flu and isn't feeling well yet.” As a result, Andrich is unlikely to feature against the 12th-placed team.

Looking ahead to their Champions League last-16 return game against Bayern Munich on Tuesday, Alonso emphasized the need for improvement, saying, “We need more energy and more clarity for this second leg.” This match will take place at Leverkusen's home stadium, and Alonso will be seeking a stronger performance from his team after their 3-0 defeat in the first leg.