Bayer Leverkusen temporarily relinquishes the championship prize in a flurry.
The first season with Bayer Leverkusen won't be the last for Xabi Alonso. The coach of Leverkusen appears elated after the Bundesliga final. During the celebration with the fans, the trophy even ends up in the hands of the supporters.
For a brief moment, the championship trophy got lost in the crowd. After many years of waiting, some fans had the opportunity to celebrate the crowning of the title with the trophy, as Bayer Leverkusen's captain Lukas Hradecky passed it on to the fans in the Nordkurve during a frenzied celebration. However, the Finn rapidly reclaimed the coveted item after the 2:1 win against FC Augsburg - and lifted it several more times.
Even Xabi Alonso, who is usually hesitant to be the center of attention, couldn't avoid the fans on this special day. The Spaniard allowed himself to be pulled up by the fence and was then embraced countless times. However, Alonso received the most heartfelt hugs after his return, when his wife and three children hugged him on the pitch. DFB sports director Rudi Völler, who had worked at Bayer for about 25 years until 2022, also got emotional as he sat in the stands and swayed along with the fans' songs.
It's already a historic German championship for the team, their first ever. But it's also a remarkable title nationwide. Leverkusen is the first team in Bundesliga history to complete the entire season without a single loss. It is also a significant season for all Leverkusen players: aside from Josip Stanisic as a substitute player at FC Bayern, no current Bayer player has ever been a German champion.
Xabi Alonso: "We are part of soccer history in Europe"
After the final whistle, the Leverkusen pitch transformed into a celebration zone. The Bayer professionals danced around on the pitch to "Looking For Freedom" by David Hasselhoff. Alonso received the loudest cheers when he walked onto the field. He was visibly touched - and let his emotions run wild. "I'm just proud that this team has written Bundesliga history in gold," said the champion coach: "It's completely deserved: 90 points, unbeaten. We still need a little time to comprehend it."
After being crowned on the field, Alonso partied gleefully on the fence in front of the Nordkurve with his cup and fans, hugging his wife and three children for several minutes and repeatedly raising his fist to the sky and towards the fans. "This is an extraordinary season. Not just in Germany, but also in Europe. There were the Invincibles (FC Arsenal, ed.), there was Juventus Turin - and now we are also part of soccer history in Europe," said Alonso. "There are too many emotions, it's not easy to describe everything."
Only one record eluded the Werkself this sensational season without a single defeat. FC Bayern took 91 points in 2012/13, while Bayer "only" 90. Does it bother him? "No, no. We've had enough," said Alonso, adding with a grin: "Staying unbeaten is better." The former world and European champion has won 18 titles during his playing career at Bayern, Real Madrid, and Liverpool FC, and yet this championship carries a lot of meaning. "I have a few, but I want one more of course," said Alonso. "I deserve it too. The first as a coach", and there's even "a new room" in his home for it.
Could two cup victories follow?
Notably, Alonso mentioned that Leverkusen have finally overcome their championship trauma. In 2000 and 2002, they lost titles they thought were secure in the season finale, earning them the nickname "Vizekusen". That's no more. "History owes Bayer another trophy," said club manager Fernando Carro. Bayer can round off the season with a treble in the Europa League final against Atalanta Bergamo in Dublin on Wednesday (9 pm/RTL and live ticker on ntv.de) and in the DFB Cup next Saturday (8 pm/ARD, Sky and live ticker on ntv.de) against second-division side 1. FC Kaiserslautern.
Bayer are unbeaten in a total of 51 competitive games from the start. With 90 points, Bayer narrowly missed Munich's historic points record from the 2012/13 season by one point, which shouldn't be a big issue. Victory Boniface (12) and international Robert Andrich (27) gave Bayer a 2-0 lead against Augsburg at the end of the game, while 18-year-old Mert Kömür became Augsburg's youngest Bundesliga goalscorer on his debut with an equalizer (62).
The Leverkusen fans celebrated an almost never-ending party in the stands, which they temporarily interrupted only once for a touching moment. After 19:04 minutes, they paid tribute for a minute to everyone from the Bayer family who didn't live long enough to see the long-awaited championship.
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- Despite the intoxication of victory, Bayer Leverkusen's captain, Lukas Hradecky, ensures to return the Master trophy to its rightful place, having temporarily handed it over to the enthusiastic fans during the championship celebration.
- After securing the championship title, Xabi Alonso expresses his feelings about the historic season, stating, "We are not just part of German soccer history, but also part of soccer history in Europe."
- With the Master trophy in hand, Alonso shares the moment with his family and fans, emphasizing, "This title means a lot to me, not just as a coach, but also as a player with a rich background in European soccer."
Source: www.ntv.de
