Xabi Alonso: “After 20 years we still talk about the 2005 final….”

Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso addressed the media at the BayArena on the eve of their Champions League match against AC Milan. The Spanish coach shared his thoughts on the upcoming game and reminisced about his past encounters with the Italian giants.

When asked about his team’s game plan, Alonso stated, “Obviously we have a match plan, but anything can happen in 95 minutes. We know our style of play, and I don’t expect a game like the one against Bayern Munich, but we’ll be ready.”

Alonso emphasized the need for concentration throughout the match, saying, “We must stay focused for the entire game. We don’t want to let them dominate the match; they’re good at counterattacks. In their last game, they scored 3 goals in 5 minutes… That’s Milan, with all their great players. They have speed and quality; it will be a big game for us, but in the Champions League, all opponents are high-level.”

The Leverkusen coach also spoke highly of his former Spain teammate Alvaro Morata: “He’s a great player; we’re in touch. He’s very mature now, he’s the captain of his national team, he’s gained experience, he’s competitive and intelligent. I hope tomorrow won’t be his best day.”

Alonso praised Christian Pulisic’s current form, noting, “He’s in very good form, he’s an important player for Milan because he has a very strong impact on the team. He plays between the lines, he’s fast, but I can’t focus only on him; I also think about players like Leao or Morata.”

Reflecting on the iconic 2005 Champions League final, Alonso said, “It was crucial for my career. We’re still talking about that night after 20 years… Istanbul is a beautiful memory, then two years later we lost to Milan, but that 2005 victory was incredible. It was 20 years ago; we need to think about tomorrow. Milan is the history of the Champions League; I’ve always followed them, from Sacchi to Capello. There have been great players, and facing them is an honor for us.”

Looking ahead to the match, Alonso concluded, “Playing against Italian teams is always difficult; we’ll need great patience with ball possession because they’re always ready to defend deep but at the same time defend well. Paulo Fonseca’s style is clear; they have a defined idea and formation. We’ll see tomorrow what kind of game we’ll be able to play, but we want to be protagonists; we are ready.”