'Everyone knows Bayer Leverkusen, that makes us even bigger,' says Alonso

Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso said that ‘the level of last season will probably not be enough’ for the goals of the new campaign.

Speaking at a press conference, the Basque coach dismissed talk of what will happen at the end of the 2024-25 season, in May next year, as he prefers to focus on what will happen in August, saying that the ‘better’ the players start, ‘maybe the better’ they finish.

‘There are a lot of basics that we have. But these basics are probably not enough. We need to add something, we need to update it, we need to add other things to it. We need to evolve and improve,’ he stressed. The Leverkusen coach said the titles won last term put ‘a responsibility’ on the team, something that ‘is good’ for the team and the club.

‘Bayer Leverkusen is perceived differently. I see it in Spain. I see it when I go on holiday: everyone knew Bayer Leverkusen. I was in the Seychelles and everybody knew what happened during the season. That makes the club, the brand, even bigger,’ he said.

Alonso said he has ‘a good squad and some good signings’ who, he said, ‘raise the level’. ‘Aleix Garcia and Martin Terrier are ready to have a direct influence. And Jeanuel Belocian is hungry,’ he said