The current predicament with Xabi Alonso at Real Madrid has proven to be one of the most difficult difficulties of his young coaching career.
This period of uncertainty contrasts sharply with the shining image he cultivated during his spectacular tenure at Bayer Leverkusen, where he accomplished something genuinely monumental.
Under Alonso, Leverkusen won the Bundesliga and the German Cup without losing a single game, and they came agonisingly close to winning the Europa League as well.
At the time, Alonso was regarded as a young, modern coach with an instant rapport with his players.
That reputation was based not only on outcomes, but also on how he handled personalities in the locker room.
Granit Xhaka, who now plays for Sunderland, was one of the most significant members of the Leverkusen squad.
Read Also:Chelsea Decide Against Making Move In Race For £65m Antoine Semenyo
In the DAZN documentary ‘Xabi from myth to challenge’, the veteran midfielder recently provided insight into Alonso’s character.
What exactly did he say?
In the documentary, Xhaka addressed the doubts that surrounded Alonso at the beginning of his coaching career.
He conceded that the Spaniard did not come with a lengthy managing resume, but swiftly explained what distinguished him.
“He definitely had no experience on the big stage. He did had personality.
“When he walked into the dressing room and started talking, everyone listened carefully because every word he said was true and he didn’t just repeat what others were saying,” the Swiss player explained.
Xhaka then delved deeper into what made Alonso so good with that Leverkusen team, emphasizing a characteristic that players frequently appreciate above tactics or titles.
He emphasized that Alonso’s strength stemmed from being real and constant in his interactions with the group.
“He was authentic. And I believe that whether you win or lose, players will perceive you as sincere.
“Besides, all teams have big egos, but he didn’t care about the big players and treated us all equally,” the Sunderland player said.
While Alonso’s methods worked wonderfully at Leverkusen, Madrid presents a whole different problem.
COMMENTS