LEVERKUSEN’S ALONSO FOCUSED ON ATLETI CLASH – Dismissed rumors linking him to Real Madrid
Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso dismissed rumours linking him to Real Madrid, where he played for five seasons and won several titles, including the 2014 Champions League.
Real boss Carlo Ancelotti has been under pressure after his side were thrashed 5-2 by Barcelona in the Spanish Super Cup final earlier this month, with some fans booing him and his team in their Copa del Rey last-16 win over Celta Vigo on Thursday.
Alonso, in the Spanish capital for his side’s Champions League group stage encounter with Atletico Madrid, said they needed to be ruthless to win against Diego Simeone’s men and edge closer to an automatic last-16 qualification.
Leverkusen sit fourth on 13 points in the table, with the top eight teams qualifying directly into the last 16, with the next 16 entering a two-legged playoff to join them. Atleti are 11th but only a point behind Leverkusen and a win on Tuesday would put either side in a great position to progress with one game still to play.
