Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso mentioned Sunday’s last-gasp 4-3 win over Stuttgart would encourage his facet’s bid to chase down league leaders Bayern Munich.
Patrick Schick scored within the fourth minute of stoppage time in Stuttgart, the one second Leverkusen led within the match.
The win introduced the defending champions to inside six factors of Bayern, who drew 1-1 at Union Berlin on Saturday, with eight video games to play.
After guiding Leverkusen to a debut Bundesliga title in 2023-24, Alonso mentioned the influence of the dramatic victory in opposition to Stuttgart, final season’s runners up, would drive his facet.
“On the finish this magic second occurred for us,” Alonso instructed DAZN, including “it means lots, to have this tremendous feeling.
“We’ll use this good ambiance, this good power, into the final a part of the season. All of the gamers, they believed — it is positively a vital win for us.”
After Schick’s purpose, Alonso ran onto the pitch because the Leverkusen bench emptied and embraced the Czech striker.
Leverkusen broke Bayern’s 11-year title streak final season by changing into the primary crew in German historical past to win a league title unbeaten.
Whereas Bayern eradicated Leverkusen from the final 16 of the Champions League through the week, Alonso mentioned the win confirmed his facet was not carried out but.
“We’ll see,” Alonso mentioned of the title race. “There’s eight video games left within the Bundesliga. Loads of issues can occur.
“We have to go recreation from recreation, win from win. It is not in our fingers, we have to wait, however immediately was essential.
“The need, the desire to battle in each recreation is there. Positively.”
Leverkusen centre-back Jonathan Tah mentioned his facet “did not quit, we believed till the top and possibly you want wins like this typically to point out that the spirit’s nonetheless there.
“We’re making an attempt to gather all of our factors — and we’ll all see on the finish whether or not it is sufficient.”
dwi/nr