Leverkusen's Self-Confidence Key To Europa League Final Success

Xabi Alonso expressed confidence in Bayer Leverkusen's ability to secure victories ahead of the Europa League final. Leverkusen is aiming for their second trophy in a potential treble against Atalanta in Dublin on Wednesday, followed by the DFB-Pokal final against Kaiserslautern on Saturday. The Bundesliga champions are on a 51-match unbeaten streak in all competitions.

Alonso, managing his first European final, believes his team will leverage their season-long experience. "Our self-confidence keeps driving us on. We know that we can produce goals until the final minute," he stated during a pre-match press conference. "From the start of the campaign, we believed in our brand of football, and that's right at the heart of this successful run."

He added, "We haven't lost in 51 games, so my boys know how to adapt to different situations. That also applies to the final." The team had one last training session before the Europa League final, as shared on their official Twitter account.

One last session together before the #UELfinal! #ATAB04 | #Bayer04 #aCROSSeurope pic.twitter.com/QPWns2kSzx

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) May 21, 2024

Alonso emphasized the importance of mentality for the upcoming match. "We have a game plan, but the players still have that wonderful atmosphere from the title celebrations on Saturday, and we want to tap into that," he said.

At 42 years old, Alonso is the youngest coach to manage a men's European final since Roberto Di Matteo led Chelsea to Champions League victory in 2012. He will also become just the fourth person this century to play in and manage a major European final, having played in the 2005 and 2007 Champions League finals with Liverpool.

Reflecting on his tenure at Leverkusen, Alonso remarked, "I was so young in this coaching career when I was offered the Leverkusen job. In one year and a half, so much has happened; it has been a great experience. We have made many right decisions and have great chemistry. The mentality we have shown throughout the year has been fantastic. I am really enjoying it."