Soccer Europa League - "I'm not crying": Alonso not afraid of Africa Cup crash
The third goalkeeper played for the first time in almost three years, an 18-year-old was involved in two goals and, in the end, a 16-year-old became the youngest German in Europa League history: in sporting terms, Bayer Leverkusen's only concern at the end of the preliminary round against Molde FK was to complete the perfect group stage. But the significance of the 5:1 victory was not to be underestimated, either internally or externally. Because it meant: Bayer has far more than just a strong first eleven.
"It makes us strong that we have so many people in the back who are eager to play," said Robert Andrich, who is currently mostly just a substitute himself, although he became an international in the fall. Coach Xabi Alonso made nine substitutions against Molde. He handed out rewards to goalkeeper Niklas Lomb and teenagers Noah Mbamba (18) and Ken Izekor (16). Stars such as Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Victor Boniface and Jeremie Frimpong were allowed to rest for 90 minutes. Nevertheless, even in this constellation Bayer celebrated genuine fun soccer, in which the Norwegian cup winners were merely a sparring partner.
This sign was so important because the competition - as BVB coach Edin Terzic recently let slip quite bluntly - has only one real hope against Leverkusen's run of 20 wins in 23 competitive matches without defeat: That Bayer will flounder when up to five stars are missing from January due to the Africa Cup. Boniface, Edmond Tapsoba, Odilon Kossounou, Amine Adli and Nathan Tella could miss the cup quarter-final against Stuttgart or important league games such as Leipzig or Bayern.
"I'm not crying. I'm not a victim," said Alonso: "We have enough players." Sporting director Simon Rolfes explained: "We have always said that we have many, many good players. The team enjoys playing soccer. No matter who comes in. Let's wait and see who ends up being nominated for the Africa Cup and how long they miss. But the ones who are there are all at a very, very good level."
Information on the match at uefa.com (in German)
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- In the Europa League, Bayer Leverkusen exemplified their depth, with Robert Andrich praising their backup players, like goalkeeper Niklas Lomb and teenagers Noah Mbamba and Ken Izekor, who contributed in the 5:1 win against Molde FK.
- Despite the absence of key players due to the Africa Cup, such as Victor Boniface, Edmond Tapsoba, Odilon Kossounou, Amine Adli, and Nathan Tella, Bayer 04 Leverkusen's coach Xabi Alonso expressed confidence in his team's abilities, with sporting director Simon Rolfes adding that they have many talented players.
- Xabi Alonso, the coach of Bayer Leverkusen, showcased his faith in the team's depth by making nine substitutions throughout the game against Molde FK, strengthening the team with highly-rated youngsters like goalkeeper Niklas Lomb and forwards Noah Mbamba and Ken Izekor.
- In North Rhine-Westphalia, Bayer Leverkusen continued their impressive form in the Europa League, as stars like Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Victor Boniface, and Jeremie Frimpong took a well-deserved break during the 5:1 victory against Molde FK from Norway.
- FIFA World Cup and Africa Cup players from Bayer Leverkusen, such as Edmond Tapsoba and Victor Boniface, may miss crucial matches for the team in January due to their international commitments, but Xabi Alonso and sporting director Simon Rolfes are optimistic about the squad's ability to cope with the absences.
- The importance of having a resilient and talented squad became clear for Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League preliminary round, as the German team conquered their opponents with youth and flair, with Xabi Alonso rotating his players effectively throughout the tournament.
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen, currently among the powerhouses of European Soccer, boast an impressive roster filled with international stars like Xabi Alonso, Victor Boniface, and Jeremie Frimpong, while also developing young talent and benefiting from the depth of their squad, which is crucial for success in the busy European League season.
Source: www.stern.de
