Xabi Alonso clears doubts: “Wirtz is fine, no excuses”

Xabi Alonso is the type of coach who speaks clearly and he was no less in the press conference after losing the Europa League final against Atalanta, who very clearly beat Bayer Leverkusen.

It was noticeable in the game that Florian Wirtz, the great star of the team, was the opposite of his true level. He did not stand out and was not the expected leader for the Bundesliga champions. It was one of the first questions about him, and asked if his lack of minutes last month could be an injury, or if there was something physical.

“Florian Wirtz is fine. This past month we were careful with him and maybe he lacked a little playing time, but he is fine and for no reason,” said Xabi Alonso without even hiding, adding that about defeat “I think we can all learn. I’m the first. You can’t forget these defeats in the finals. We gave everything but it didn’t go according to plan. We’re not at our best level yet, myself included. , so we can learn from it.”

In terms of football, Atalanta especially outplayed Bayer Leverkusen in the first half with their individual pressure, tying the Germans. “When we had a slight advantage, their team was too strong to regain the position. We prepared for that, but from their goal, and even before, they passed us. In football that happens,” explained the Spaniard, who liked it. to emphasize that “it doesn’t happen. It’s a matter of attitude, it’s a matter of football. It doesn’t change my way of thinking or my love for these players. Now is not our time, they is better than us. This is the first defeat of the season and it will be a test to see how we will face next Saturday (in the DFB Kup final).”

Inevitably questions will also be asked about the lost record. Leverkusen never lost. “Usually it happens earlier in the season. Having it in this match is very painful. We have to deal with it in a positive way and try to change it for the next game,” said Xabi Alonso, remembering that “it is football , it is not normal for you to win now, if not earlier what we have achieved is exceptional and we should be proud even if this defeat is something great.

Bayer Leverkusen now need to win the double. Next Saturday they will play the final of the German Cup against Cologne after suffering their first defeat of the season and in a final like the Europa League, which could be a very difficult morale blow. “It’s going to be a challenge. Dealing with the pain, coming back from this. We have to prepare well. We have to try to recover from not having succeeded, we will try not to let it affect us too much,” urged Alonso. , who didn’t downplay the importance of his season in Germany, but still stressed the defeat “hurts too. You want to win the final as long as you’re second, it’s really hard to deal with. it’s going to be an easy night for anyone.”

“I congratulate Gasperini. He played in so many finals and now they are a better team. This is the result of the great work he has done, I wish him the best for the future,” concluded Xabi Alonso, highlighting the work of the Atalanta coach after that many minutes “we couldn’t deal with many difficult situations that we prepared because they demanded a lot. We didn’t put the ball in the right positions to take advantage of it, they did.”