Given the time difference, it was an early start for the 13 media representatives who joined the round table digitally. However, there was great interest from the journalists from Argentina, Brazil, Mexico and Ecuador.
Alonso first reflected on his own experience with various coaches during his playing days: “I was lucky to work with some very good coaches as a player. They all very much shaped me, whether at Real [Sociedad], Liverpool, [Real] Madrid, Bayern [Munich] or the Spanish national team.” The Spaniard said of his own approach to coaching: “My style as a coach is always determined by the players I’m working with. I’ve continued to develop as a coach since my time at Real Sociedad to now at Bayer 04, and always adapted. It’s the only way to create a bond with the players.” Alonso also stressed: “It’s very enriching for me to mature in my work every day and gather these unique, valuable experiences as a coach. Right now, I feel this adaption with the team is working very well.”
The 41-year-old described his start to life at the BayArena as challenging. “It was a process of finding each other, of maturing and both sides getting to know each other. It was demanding but also helpful. We were stagnant at the start, but luckily we had time last October to accept the situation and do a lot of work. We needed a concrete perspective and a strategic mission.” Alonso believes that has made the team ready for the challenges ahead at the end of the season. “Now, two months before the end of the season, we’re still in the race in the Bundesliga and the Europa League. So, we’re in a position in which we can optimistically and realistically achieve something important in both competitions.”
The Latin American media were obviously also very interested in the performances of Bayer 04’s South American duo Palacios and Hincapie. The Spaniard appeared impressed by the development of the Argentinian world champion: “The World Cup helped with his confidence. When you win that and hold the trophy in your hands, you want more. Pala has been playing at a very high level for two months. He’s playing with dynamism in attack, with aggression to win the ball back. The better he implements our philosophy and the speed of our game, the better the team will be. The team has very much improved with him and the other midfielders. I’m sure Pala will continue to develop as well.”
Alonso also sang the praises of Ecuador international Hincapie: “I think he’s a very modern defender. He can play in different positions. He’s served us as a full-back in recent games, but has also been the left centre-back when we’ve played with a back three. He’s aggressive, is making better decisions when he has the ball, backs himself more to play diagonal passes and get in behind. It motivates me to have a player with his potential and desire because he helps you and you help him. He's a great player.”
When asked about young South American players in the Bundesliga and at the club, Alonso replied: “I remember Leverkusen has always brought in lots of very good young players from South America – from Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Ecuador. This is our football. We obviously also have our eye on young players from Europe, but also look just as closely at Latin America and Africa. The door is open to everyone.”
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