Xabi Alonso had to smile when he heard the strange statistics about the historic start with Bayer Leverkusen. “I couldn’t beat Pep,” he said with mock disappointment: “But that’s a challenge for the future.”
Only once in 60 years of the Bundesliga has a team started better than Bayer Leverkusen: And when FC Bayern Munich managed that in 2015/16 with nine wins, Pep Guardiola was the coach – and Alonso was his thinker and leader in the defensive midfield.
This is “interesting data,” said Alonso, even though such shenanigans actually don’t interest him much. But such records are something special. Especially since his team’s only draw was a 2-2 draw with Bayern.
Club record
And then just a few seconds later, the former world and European champion heard that he had also set a club record: no Bayer coach has ever managed eight competitive game victories in a row; Klaus Toppmöller managed seven 22 years ago. “I don’t know all the statistics. There are too many,” said Alonso: “But of course I’m happy. I have great respect for Toppmöller and all the great coaches who were here.”
Other records: 27 goals after nine Bundesliga games are a new club record, five home wins at the start of this record. “It’s brutal what we’ve done so far,” said Alonso: “But we have to want more. Always.” Nobody should think that something has already been achieved. “It’s very good to start like this. But the table doesn’t say anything yet. I won’t talk about the table until April.” Until then, he may be able to declare one or two records.
