Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso preferred to laugh at the numerous injuries affecting his squad while he was at a press conference this Monday on the eve of the match against RB Salzburg in the Champions League.
“If Fernando (Carro, the club boss, Editor’s note) offers me a playing contract, maybe”. Faced with a cascade of injuries, Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso preferred to joke on Monday, before facing Salzburg in the Champions League on Tuesday (9:00 p.m.). For the 5th day of C1, Xabi Alonso will have to do without a large part of his offensive players: center forward Victor Boniface (thigh muscle injury), wingers Amine Adli (left fibula fracture), Jonas Hofmann (right thigh) and, most recently on Saturday, Martin Terrier (fracture of the right forearm).
“There are no new injuries for the moment”explained Xabi Alonso at a press conference, after the last training session before Tuesday’s match. “We hope there will be no bad news tomorrow”after the match against Salzburg, he added. Asked ironically to know if he could possibly play, as he celebrates his 43rd birthday on Monday, the Basque technician responded with a joke: “If Fernando (Carro, Leverkusen boss) offers me a playing contract, why not. But not yet.” And add with a smile: “I only have a coaching contract and I am not allowed to play.”
To compensate for these absences, the coach had to draw on the youth teams, with four U18s, and even a 16-year-old, Andrea Natali. Reigning German champion, Bayer Leverkusen has seven points after four days in the Champions League, but remains on a slap received at Liverpool (4-0).
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