by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, March 9 (Xinhua) -- A healthier look seemed to return to Xabi Alonso's face over the weekend, suggesting he has left behind his darkest hours as Leverkusen's head coach.
The 43-year-old Spaniard's fighting spirit appears to have resurfaced, guiding him into a tunnel-like focus before the delicate second leg of the UEFA Champions League last-16 tie against Bayern Munich.
He chose not to talk much, a habit of the two-time Champions League winner, but his body language looked more competitive.
Eyewitnesses at the 2024 German champions' headquarters noted a visible lift in Alonso's demeanor, indicating the former LFC, Real, and Bayern midfielder hasn't abandoned hope of turning things around in Tuesday's clash with the Bavarians.
Alonso still believes in what he previously called a "miracle," despite the 3-0 loss in the first leg against Bayern.
Before this, suffering two consecutive defeats - his first such run since May 2023 - took its toll on the 114-time capped international. On Saturday evening, immediately after the league setback against Bremen, which followed the 3-0 UEFA Champions League defeat in Munich, a pale and visibly frustrated Alonso lamented his team's failures and admitted he had likely chosen a misleading lineup by rotating seven positions.
Injury concerns added to the malaise, including worry over star midfielder Florian Wirtz, plus the uncertain status of Granit Xhaka and defender Edmond Tapsoba.
While Wirtz's injury initially appeared serious, the 21-year-old's availability for Tuesday remains a guarded secret to keep Bayern guessing. The German international left the Bayer arena on crutches Saturday evening to seek medical attention, but scans reportedly showed no damage that would force a long layoff.
The club announced it would not release a medical update until Monday afternoon, which aligns with Alonso's intentions.
After months of praise, the Spaniard's reputation took a hit over the past week. Frustration spread in the Bayer squad after defeats in Munich and at home to Bremen, with TV cameras capturing players disagreeing heatedly.
Behind the scenes, the 2010 World Cup champion is quietly piecing together a plan to spark a comeback.
A pressing priority may be reigniting his forwards Victor Boniface and Patrik Schick, who often found themselves marginalized by the coach's "box striker-less" line-up.
Though Alonso said last Tuesday that a "miracle" was possible, he remained silent this weekend, working on a way to produce a surprise.
"To earn criticism is nothing new for him," he said, adding: "But I can learn too." ■
