~~ Snip ~~
I think Xabi is an important coach. What they did in Leverkusen is obvious. I wonder whether they will achieve these successes next year. Bayern Munich met with many coaches before signing Kompany, but it would not be easy to convince them, and they could not do it anyway. So they turned to alternatives and signed Kompany
Xabi made an incredible choice - having such options as going to Bayern/Liverpool, he remained at Bayer. This is a very ambitious choice because it is simply impossible to repeat this season even if you are a top club, this happens once every hundred years. Therefore, staying in Bayer with almost a guarantee that the next season will be worse is a strong-willed decision and I began to respect Xabi even more; I will have to root for Bayer next season (in this year I was more likely to root against Bayern than for Bayer).
And I’m also interested in how Bayer will perform in the Champions League playoffs, I’m 100% sure that they will get there given the new format of the tournament.
Xabi Alonso decision to reject offers from clubs like Liverpool and Bayern Munchen was considered very brave, but choosing to stay with Leverkusen was a much wiser choice. Liverpool and Bayern Munchen are indeed elite European clubs, but after the death of their managers, there are many things that must be done to start next season. With Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso no longer needs to struggle to start from scratch, maybe just a few touches and Levekusen are ready to continue their impressive season again. Besides that, after Xabi Alonso succeeded in leading Leverkusen to become champions of the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal, I think there will be many opportunities coaching a big club for him in the seasons to come.
Setting an unbeaten record, winning a double trophy and reaching the Champions League final next season is very difficult to achieve, but it will be even more difficult if Xabi Alonso changes teams. There is no doubt that the squad depth of Bayern Munchen and Liverpool is better than Leverkusen, but in many ways Xabi Alonso has formed a stronger foundation with his current team. I predict Leverkusen can at least reach the semifinals of the Champions League next season, but it is not impossible that they can act beyond expectations again.