After Xabi Alonso successfully led Leverkusen to win the Bundesliga and DFB Pokal trophies, all teams now respect them and there is no longer the word "Neverkusen". Last week their unbeaten record in domestic competition was stopped by Leipzig, it was surprising and in reality it is not easy to continue to maintain the record. However, considering the journey is still very long, Leverkusen still has the potential to be able to defend the trophy this season, even though we currently know Bayern Munchen is more consistent. I predict Leverkusen will be able to rise in the next match, Xabi Alonso cool hand seems to still work well.
Meanwhile, the challenges faced by Xabi Alonso this season are certainly much tougher, because they will play in the Champions League, their journey there will certainly be very different from the Europa League last season. Xabi Alonso managerial quality will really be tested this season, to prove that their success last season was not just luck. With almost the same squad depth, Leverkusen will clearly be taken into account in any competition.
When other teams take you seriously, they play differently and that is why it makes it so hard to be a team like Bayern who dominates for a decade, because normally they all try to beat you, whereas they play each other more comfortably.
Leverkusen is learning that, there is a reason why certain teams end up winning the league all the time, why Bayern did it, why PSG is doing it and City is now doing it and why Real Madrid and Barcelona does it, because these teams are richer and bigger than every other club and even if they have a few bad seasons, they will have the means to recover. Teams like Leverkusen do not have that means, they can do great for one year, but the moment they become bad, they will be gone. Like Lille in France, or Leicester in England.
Bayer Leverkusen is an upcoming team with low experience and also low financial stability, so you can compare them with teams like Bayern Munich, PSG, Manchester City, Barcelona, and Real Madrid. This team is far more better than Bayer Leverkusen. So it will not be a small challenge for Xavi Alonso this season because the Champions League is not that easy compared to the Europe League; moreover, even last season that they played an unbeaten season, they ended up losing the trophy against Atalanta. I know Xavi Alonso will try his best, but it will not be easy for them to face these challenges, but at least I know they will try their possible best to see they do something tangible in the season.