by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Oct. 27 (Xinhua) -- Bayer Leverkusen's season has started with lingering defensive issues that contrast starkly with the steadfast form they showed in their title-winning campaign last year.
Head coach Xabi Alonso, who led Leverkusen to a league and cup double last season with only 24 goals conceded, now finds his squad struggling with 15 goals conceded in just eight Bundesliga games. Although not in a crisis, Alonso and his team are conscious of the need to revive the tenacity that defined their past success.
Alonso has emphasized that success requires embracing the struggle and suffering for the full 90 minutes, warning against the defensive lapses that have allowed opponents to capitalize on their mistakes. Captain Granit Xhaka and defender Jonathan Tah echoed these sentiments, noting that Leverkusen's tendency to concede on turnovers and lack of consistent defensive discipline makes it too easy for opponents to believe they have a chance to equalize or win.
The German champions have demonstrated promising results in the Champions League, with wins against AC Milan and Club Brugge and a draw against Brest. However, this success has added to the pressure in the Bundesliga, as fans and the team aspire to build a golden era for the club. Maintaining that level of performance across multiple competitions demands defensive discipline, which Alonso aims to restore.
With key upcoming matches against Elversberg in the German Cup, Stuttgart in the league, and Liverpool in the Champions League, Alonso and his squad have a pivotal opportunity to re-establish the defensive rigor and hunger that earned them such accolades last season. The team's focus on defending first, as Xhaka stated, could be the foundation they need to reclaim the control and confidence that spurred their previous success.