Xabi Alonso explains how he stayed cool under pressure to guide Bayer Leverkusen to remarkable first-ever Bundesliga title

Bayer Leverkusen completed one of the biggest fairytales in football history winning their first-ever Bundesliga title, and Xabi Alosno explains how.

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• Bayer Leverkusen win Bundesliga title
• Alonso talks about how he handled pressure
• Leverkusen in the hunt for a treble this season

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  WHAT HAPPENED?

  When the season started, not even Bayer Leverkusen fans would have thought that they would be celebrating winning the Bundesliga, that too with five games to go until the end of the season. However, that is now a reality for Die Werkself, and Alonso has explained how he handled the pressures of having to lead a club that was chasing down their first league title while being hounded down by the most successful club in Germany, Bayern Munich. He also talked about getting rid of the 'Neverkusen Curse' that has seen the club drop titles despite being in commanding positions.

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• WHAT ALONSO SAID

  Speaking to ESPN after the title win, Alonso said: "Well, it feels great because I have this feeling that this is not just for us, this is for so many people that have been chasing this dream for so many years. I have in mind the old coaches, Christoph Daum, Klaus Augenthaler, and Roger Schmidt. They were here and they are a part of it as well and for me, it's so great to bring success and to be part of this success with this team.

  "It is always special when it's the time of everything and when it's the first time of a Bundesliga title, that is the most difficult title probably. And I'm so happy to enjoy it with the players, with the fans, with the club and so many people that deserved to really, really enjoy that moment.

  "The mentality of losing key matches? Because I was not here for so long, that was not in my veins so deep, so probably I was lighter. The weight of history wasn't that heavy inside me. So I was hearing that, but I said, okay, let's see what happens. And I had a feeling that this year we started from scratch, taking many right decisions, and building a great team, the club, Simon, Fernando, and Mister Menning, were really supportive. We had from the beginning of the season that it could be a good season, that we had a good team to play a good season.

  "For sure the expectations, we have overcome the expectations and to play and to win Bundesliga, five games to go with our numbers, with the way we have played, with the way we have totally deserved most of the results, it's unbelievable. It's difficult to put in words, but all the credit to so many people and I'm really happy to be part of it."

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  THE BIGGER PICTURE

  Leverkusen hired Alonso partway through the start of the 2022-23 season after having parted ways with Gerardo Seoane, who left them fighting relegation eight games into the season. Alonso eventually turned around the club's fortune as he led them to the Europa League spots. After a bit of recruitment and signings, Leverkusen turned up to the title fight and amidst Bayern Munich's inconsistent form they ran away with the league title with their 5-0 win over Werder Bremen.

• WHAT NEXT FOR LEVERKUSEN?

  Die Werkself may have won the league title but they still have their work cut out for them as they look to win the Europa League and the DFB Pokal to complete a treble. They will be in action up next against West Ham on Thursday, April 18 in the Europa League.