Alonso urges Leverkusen to put Bayern loss behind them
Bayer Leverkusen are looking to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Bayern Munich against Werder Bremen on Saturday.
Xabi Alonso wants Bayer Leverkusen to be professional and quickly move on from their chastening defeat to Bayern Munich, with Werder Bremen up next.
Leverkusen suffered a 3-0 defeat to Bayern in the Champions League last-16 first-leg tie on Wednesday, their first defeat to the Bavarians since Alonso took charge in October 2022.
It was the sixth time under Alonso that Leverkusen have lost by a 3+ goal margin, with four of those instances coming in European competition (two this season).
Their hopes of advancing to the Champions League quarter-finals now look slim ahead of the second leg next week, but Alonso said his side could not afford to wallow in their disappointment, urging them to refocus their attention on the Bundesliga.
"The mood is better than [Thursday]. We discussed everything as usual, we have to be professional and focus on the next game," Alonso told reporters on Friday.
"[Friday] was our first and last training session in preparation for [the game]. We want to take every competition very seriously and now the Bundesliga is next on the agenda. We are in a position where a lot can still happen and everything is open...
"We're used to switching between the Champions League and Bundesliga, so it shouldn't be a problem for us. We need fresh legs and a clear head, no matter who we're playing and in which competition. We want to go full throttle every game."
Leverkusen blew a lead twice in the reverse fixture against Werder (2-2). They have dropped 13 points from winning positions, the third-highest tally in the league this season.
Alonso's side sit second in the table on 53 points, eight behind leaders Bayern, as they look to keep the pressure on them in the title race.
The Spaniard said midfielder Robert Andrich was unlikely to feature against 12th-placed Werder, adding: "He still has the flu and isn't feeling well yet."
Following their meeting with Werder, Leverkusen will play their Champions League last-16 return game against Bayern at home on Tuesday.
"We need more energy and more clarity for this second leg," Alonso said.