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Alonso Ready For Beer Shower As Leverkusen Eyes Bundesliga Glory
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso expressed his readiness to embrace a beer shower if his team secures the Bundesliga title with a victory over Werder Bremen this weekend.
Leverkusen, maintaining an undefeated record this season, has the opportunity to clinch the league title by defeating Bremen on Sunday, marking the club’s inaugural league triumph in its 120-year history. Previously winning the Bundesliga thrice as a Bayern Munich player, Alonso participated in the German football tradition of showering then-manager Pep Guardiola with beer.
Asked if he was expecting the same treatment, Alonso told reporters: “I haven’t thought about it and it’s best to be spontaneous. But if I see the players all around me, then I’ll be ready.”
Despite holding a commanding 16-point lead with only six games left in the season, Alonso, who turned down reported interest from his former club Liverpool to remain at Leverkusen, is eager to clinch the title this Sunday.
“Thankfully it’s not our only chance, but we of course want to win,” he said. “The fans deserve the chance to celebrate something.”
Leverkusen could potentially secure the title on Saturday if Bayern Munich and Stuttgart, who are set to face Cologne and Eintracht Frankfurt respectively, both suffer defeats.
“That would be a big surprise. It wouldn’t happen normally,” Alonso said. “To be honest, it’s better to win it on our pitch. If we do that, it’ll be a special moment for the club.”
Alonso reassured that his team, often dubbed ‘Neverkusen’ due to past struggles in crucial matches, will not succumb to nerves.
“We need to be focused on our game and trust our qualities and mentality,” Alonso said. “I think there is no reason to believe things will be different (against Bremen).”
