Alonso ahead of #B04KOE: ‘An intense game – only on the pitch’

“Tomorrow, we’ll take the first step in a decisive month. We only have four games left in the Bundesliga. If we want to achieve our goals of moving into the European places, then we need to win. The team is absolutely ready for it,” Alonso said at the start of his pre-match press conference on Thursday afternoon. The Spaniard added: “We’re currently riding a wave. The mood within the team is good; the connection between the team, the club and the fans is right. We want to build on exactly that tomorrow.”

Alonso: “Balance of passion and control”

The 41-year-old described Köln as brave and warned of a physical encounter. “They press both with and without the ball, attack their opponent high up the pitch and also have a lot of possession. They definitely deserve to have more points in the table than they do right now,” added Alonso, who’s learned lessons from the reverse fixture in Cologne. “The first half of the first meeting showed what we can expect. We’ve prepared for that in our training this week.”

It will therefore be about finding the right mix against the Billy Goats. “We need a healthy balance of passion and control, intensity and emotional stability,” Alonso explained.

Palacios to return

Alonso has an almost fully fit squad available to him for the derby, with midfielder Exequiel Palacios once again fit to feature.

The World Cup winner and his teammates can once again expect a great atmosphere at the BayArena. The home part of the stadium is sold out for the fifth straight game, while the 3,000 tickets for the away section have also all been snapped up. Alonso said ahead of his first home derby as Werkself boss: “From my first day here, everyone’s told me about the importance of this game. I’m looking forward to experiencing that at home at the BayArena now.” The Spaniard also echoed the point made earlier by Köln coach Steffen Baumgart: “We’re looking forward to a game that’s intense only on the pitch.”