Xabi Alonso Hails Wirtz’s Performance

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso was full of praise for Florian Wirtz after the German international scored two goals in his side’s 5-0 victory over RB Salzburg in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Wirtz’s remarkable display not only earned him the “player of the match” title for the fourth time this season but also helped Leverkusen regain momentum in their European campaign following a disappointing defeat to Liverpool and a draw against Brest.

Leverkusen’s Outlook in the Champions League

Currently sitting fifth in the league table, Alonso expressed confidence in his team’s chances of progressing to the next round, providing more opportunities for Wirtz to showcase his talent. He remarked, ‘We want to help Florian Wirtz. We know how different he is for us. We have to find him at the right moments.’

Alonso emphasized the importance of having a structured play to support Wirtz, stating, ‘This competition is for him. He is a Champions League player.’ He also conveyed his hopes for winning against Union Berlin in their upcoming Bundesliga match.

Room for Improvement

Despite the resounding victory against Salzburg, Alonso believes there is still room for improvement. ‘We did very well against Salzburg today. We want to build on that against Union on Saturday and maintain the level we have set ourselves,’ he said. Reflecting on their overall performance, he noted, ‘There are still ups and downs. We weren’t great, but we weren’t very bad. But I think there’s still room for improvement. We can do better.’