How Xabi Alonso Created His Own Style of Football

Summary

Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen showcases a dynamic blend of tactical philosophies, drawing from the pressing intensity of Klopp, Guardiola's positional play, and Diniz's relational clusters. Since Alonso's arrival, the team transformed from relegation struggles to a top Bundesliga contender, utilizing a fluid 3421/4231 formation. Their attacking style relies on intricate passing combinations and aggressive counterpressing, leading to high possession and effective overloads in midfield. Leverkusen ranks highly in chances created through direct play rather than crosses, making them one of the most entertaining teams in Europe, with potential title aspirations as they exceed expected performance metrics.

Takeaways

• 😀 Xabi Alonso has blended different football philosophies, combining Gegenpressing, Positionism, and relationism to create a unique style at Bayer Leverkusen.
• 😀 Since Alonso's appointment in October 2022, he has transformed a struggling Leverkusen side into one of the most entertaining teams in European football.
• 😀 Leverkusen ranks highest in the Bundesliga for completed passes and 1-2 combinations, showcasing their emphasis on close passing and team proximity.
• 😀 The team predominantly plays in a 3421 formation, resembling a 4-2-3-1 in practice, allowing for fluid positional rotations among players.
• 😀 The double pivot of Palacios and Granit Xhaka plays a crucial role in both build-up and creating attacking options by shifting positions to exploit space.
• 😀 Leverkusen excels at creating congested midfield areas, forcing opponents to compress their shape and then quickly switching play to exploit the opposite flank.
• 😀 The striker's movement is essential for maintaining pressure on the opposition's defense and creating gaps for midfielders to exploit.
• 😀 Leverkusen's attacking efficiency is highlighted by their reliance on central progression rather than crosses, ranking high in chances created from dribbles and throughballs.
• 😀 The team has a strong attacking presence in the final third, often outnumbering defenders and using a variety of attacking routes to keep opponents guessing.
• 😀 Leverkusen currently outperforms their expected points, showing their impressive form and potential to compete for the Bundesliga title this season.

Q & A

What are the key components of Xabi Alonso's coaching style at Bayer Leverkusen?

Alonso's style combines Gegenpressing intensity, positional play, and relational clusters, creating a unique approach that emphasizes attacking creativity and defensive solidity.

How did Bayer Leverkusen perform before Alonso's arrival?

Before Alonso took over, Leverkusen was struggling in 17th place in the Bundesliga and appeared disjointed as a team.

What formation does Leverkusen primarily use under Alonso?

Leverkusen typically starts in a 3421 formation, which often resembles a 4-2-3-1 during matches.

What role do the double pivot players, Palacios and Xhaka, play in the team's build-up?

Palacios and Xhaka are crucial in the build-up phase, shifting positions to create passing options and helping to overload the opposition.

How does Leverkusen create space in their attacking play?

Leverkusen creates space by rotating players, which forces the opposition to tighten their shape, allowing them to exploit gaps and switch play effectively.

What distinguishes Leverkusen's approach in the final third?

Leverkusen is highly direct in the final third, focusing on central progression rather than relying on crosses, and ranks among the top teams for creating chances through dribbles and cutbacks.

How important is pressing to Leverkusen's defensive strategy?

Pressing is a vital component of Leverkusen's strategy, as they lead the Bundesliga in Gegenpressing intensity and efficiency, allowing them to regain possession quickly.

What is the significance of the players' average positioning in Leverkusen's tactics?

The average positioning reflects close player proximity, which facilitates quick passing combinations and effective overloads across the pitch.

How has Leverkusen's performance changed since Alonso's arrival?

Since Alonso's arrival, Leverkusen has transformed into one of the most entertaining and effective teams in European football, finishing in a Europa League spot and setting a high standard in the Bundesliga.

What are the prospects for Leverkusen this season under Alonso's management?

Given their current form and performance, Leverkusen is seen as a strong contender for the Bundesliga title this season.