Alonso hails Wirtz as a natural for the Champions League spotlight

Bayer Leverkusen's head coach, Xabi Alonso, expressed his admiration for Florian Wirtz following the German international's impressive two-goal performance in the team's 5-0 victory over RB Salzburg in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Wirtz earned the title of player of the match for the fourth time this season, playing a crucial role in revitalizing Leverkusen's European campaign after a disappointing 4-0 loss to Liverpool and a 1-1 draw against Brest.

Currently positioned fifth in the 36-team standings, Alonso is optimistic about his team's chances of advancing to the next round, which would provide the 21-year-old with further opportunities to excel.

"We aim to support Florian Wirtz. His impact on our team is significant, and we must ensure we find him at the right moments. Establishing a solid structure is essential to facilitate his contributions. This competition is tailored for him; he is undoubtedly a Champions League player," Alonso remarked to the media.

"With any luck, we will progress to the next stage. Florian is eager to deliver a standout performance, and such a game would be ideal for him."

Alonso also expressed his desire for the team to continue their positive momentum in the Bundesliga and recapture the form that led to their domestic double last season.

Nevertheless, the former Spain international acknowledged that there remains potential for enhancement in their overall performance.

"We performed well against Salzburg today. Our goal is to build on this success in our upcoming match against Union Berlin on Saturday and sustain the standard we have set," Alonso commented regarding their next Bundesliga challenge.

"There are fluctuations in our performance. While we were not exceptional, we were also not poor. I believe there is still significant room for improvement, and we can achieve better results."

SportsLigue