Kompany changes Bayern mood music to leave Alonso singing his praise | Andy Brassell
The Spaniard was relieved to escape with a draw and highlighted the transformation of Bayern under new coach
“The biggest difference,” said Xabi Alonso, “is the energy. The belief. You can feel it.” He could have been talking about his own effect on Bayer Leverkusen, an extraordinary transformation as he approaches the second anniversary of his appointment later this week; two years that have taken the locals’ brains to another dimension, to quote Kool Keith, that have achieved undreamed-of heights and maybe even permanently raised expectations.
Alonso wasn’t, however, talking about his own team. The coach was referring to the fledgling work of his opposite number Vincent Kompany after Leverkusen escaped – and this really is the right verb here – with a point from Saturday’s TopSpiel at Bayern Munich. Alonso had achieved an unusual and largely anecdotal record in becoming the first coach not to experience defeat in his first four meetings with Bayern, but it had not been easy. If the early-season thriller in last year’s corresponding fixture had the sort of toe-to-toe feel to it that hinted at Leverkusen’s ambitions for their eventually historic campaign, this was more one way. This was Bayern making a statement. “I am very happy with the point,” admitted Alonso after the 1-1 draw.
