After the late evening game, progress to the Europa League quarter-finals and a short night, Xabi Alonso turned his attention to the next challenge on Friday morning: "We know it's always difficult against Bayern. They have incredibly high quality on the pitch week after week and face their opponents with intensive play at the highest level."
REUNION with old friends
The Spaniard, who played for FC Bayern for three years and won the German league title three times with the club, is looking forward to the reunion: "I had a lot of great times at FC Bayern and have great connections there. I'm looking forward to talking with some people after the final whistle. But before that my focus is completely on the match and I see that professionally so there is no time to be emotional. Above all else, I want to help my team."
The aim against the record champions, after two away games, is to build on the performances and results from the last games in front of a full house at the BayArena. Alonso continued: "We are in a good phase as a team at the moment and that gives us confidence. We will do our best in spite of the short preparation time and produce the best possible performance on the pitch."
That requires above all, "maturity and emotional control," said the Spaniard who has won five of the last six games with the Werkself. "We had all of that in the last games. If we can bring that quality onto the pitch then we will be successful."
Amiri on road to recovery
In relation to the squad for the match against FC Bayern, the 41 year-old coach responded to a question at the press conference by saying he was unable to give a final assessment: "It's too early to say exactly who we can include in our plans for on Sunday. Karim (Bellarabi, ed.) was ill and with Patrik (Schick, ed.) we'll have to wait and see how his groin problem develops. Nadiem (Amiri, ed.) is on the road to recovery after his muscular problems.”
Werkself BACK in Leverkusen
The Werkself landed safely at Cologne/Bonn airport on Friday afternoon and are now back in the Rhineland. Alonso will hold a final pre-match training session on Saturday 18 March. After Sunday’s game, there will be a quieter time for Lukas Hradecky and Co. Alonso finished off by saying: "At the moment, we just take everything day by day. After the game against FC Bayern we’ll have more time for recovery and then again be best prepared and fit for the forthcoming matches."
