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I agree Bayer Leverkusen slow start to season is worrying but I don't think they are out of running yet. Their way of playing has some problems but they have good team and smart coach Xabi Alonso. It is good that they kept Alonso and their best players. But they need to fix their weaknesses fast to keep up with strong teams like Bayern Munich and others. Bundesliga is always tough and this season will be very exciting. Leverkusen fans have reason to be hopeful but team needs to play better to keep their title. It is too early to give up on them but they need to improve soon.
I think Bayer Leverkusen start this season shouldn't be seen as a slow start because they lost their last match at home, they made a terrible mistake losing from 2:0 to 2:3 when they had opportunity of winning game but that shouldn't be seen as a problem unless they make the same mistake in their next game. Xabi Alonso should be prepared to make an adjustment and improve the performance of his team in doing his he should motivate his team to face the task ahead since they will be playing in the champions league and defending their league title would be the most important thing for them to do this season since the league is looking so difficult already.
This is a season of proof for Xabi Alonso and his players, where his managerial qualities and the mentality of the players will be tested to the limit. Expectations for Leverkusen are still quite high, even though in their last match they lost to Leipzig, I think that was lucky for Leipzig. The challenges faced by Leverkusen this season have indeed increased, defending the title and trying to talk a lot in the Champions League. Without stability in the team, it is impossible for them to achieve their targets in both competitions at once.
I do not see Leverkusen defeat as a step back, but the defeat must be an important point for Xabi Alonso, that there is something that needs to be fixed in their game. Winning and losing is a natural thing, all teams must feel it, but the most important thing is how they get up and start the journey to victory again. For more than one season Leverkusen has never felt "what defeat is", so Leverkusen will learn again how to get up. I still remember, when Xabi Alonso bravely decided to stay with Leverkusen and rejected several offers from top European clubs, he still believed that they could do something historic again this season.