Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso has suggested that his team is not the favorite to win the German league title in the new season, stating that his only goal is to finish in the top four.
Alonso led Leverkusen to a domestic double last season, denying Bayern Munich the Bundesliga title for the first time in 11 years, and also lost the Europa League final to Atalanta.
The Spanish coach opened the new season with a penalty shootout victory over Stuttgart to win the Super Cup.
Before Leverkusen’s first league game against Borussia Mönchengladbach, Alonso responded to a question about this season’s goal by saying, “We are not the favorites to win the Bundesliga.”
He added, “I don’t care what the experts say, Bayern Munich remains the favorite for the title. We now want to play well and start the season positively.”
He continued, “That’s our goal, we want to feel like we’re playing good football, and then we’ll see where that takes us.”
He concluded, “Our declared goal this season is to finish in the top four of the Bundesliga, that’s very realistic. We have a good squad and we have to take each game one at a time.”
Many believe that Alonso’s statements are the usual “mind games” used by managers to relieve pressure on themselves and their team and increase pressure on Bayern Munich, who are eager to return to the top after a trophyless season.
