Xabi Alonso, the coach of Bayer Leverkusen, was amazed by the modern Puskas Arena in Budapest as he visited ahead of the Europa League round of 16 second leg against Ferencvaros Budapest on Thursday. The stadium reminded him of the Wanda Metropolitano in Atlético Madrid, and he found it motivating to play in Europe once again.
Meanwhile, Lukas Hradecky, the captain of Bayer Leverkusen, warned his colleagues not to be complacent despite the team’s 2-0 win in the first leg against Ferencvaros. He emphasized the need for humility and hard work, as well as controlling the pressure and being the first to score a goal.
In this match, Bayer Leverkusen needs to be intelligent in order not to get a surprise from Hungary. Alonso demanded his players to be wise and focused, as a win in this match will lead the team to the quarter-finals of the Europa League for the first time since 2020.
However, Alonso must also be cautious not to be just a spectator if they advance. In the first leg against Ferencvaros, he received his second yellow card in the European Cup as a Bayer coach. Another warning could lead to his suspension in the quarter-finals. Alonso admits that he hopes to control himself and avoid getting another yellow card.
He is also pleased to have the opportunity to play in the Puskas Arena, where the Europa League final will take place. He says that his focus is currently on Ferencvaros, but there are still many games to win before the final. Leverkusen needs to stay motivated and perform at their best to advance in the Europa League.
