Xabi Alonso returns to Liverpool as master coach of Bayer Leverkusen
Xabi Alonso has already lifted the Bundesliga, DFB Cup and Supercup as Bayer Leverkusen coach. While he won countless honours before that as a player with Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, his return to Anfield in the UEFA Champions League rekindles memories of the most magical night in his playing career.
There are no direct parellels between a single match of football and a long coaching spell, but there is one thing that connects Liverpool trailing 3-0 to AC Milan at half-time in the 2004/05 Champions League final and Bayer Leverkusen dwindling in 17th in the Bundesliga table in October 2022: the sheer determination of Alonso to make a complete success of a perilous situation.
Having to look back on Jerzy Dudek's goal to see the ball nestled in the Liverpool net three times in the first half marked a terrible start to the big night in Istanbul. Only three times before in Champions League/ European Cup history had a single-legged final been decided by a greater margin than three goals, putting the Reds well on course for a defeat of record proportions.
A change had to be made. Dietmar Hamann came on for Steve Finnan and slotted into defensive midfield alongside Alonso. The introduction of the bustling former Bayern and Germany middle man freed Alonso up to take his classy passing ability further forward and try to inspire a comeback that almost nobody believed was possible.
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