Jeremie Frimpong expresses admiration for Xabi Alonso’s coaching prowess, emphasising that the Bayer Leverkusen manager has “has the solutions”. Frimpong’s commendation comes amid reports linking him with a move to Liverpool.
Frimpong’s significant contributions, tallying eight goals and seven assists, have been instrumental in Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable success under Alonso’s leadership. The team currently holds a commanding ten-point lead at the summit of the Bundesliga, maintaining an impressive unbeaten streak.
Xabi Alonso, widely regarded as one of the finest midfielders of his era, is embarking on his inaugural managerial role with Bayer Leverkusen.
Yet Frimpong believes there’s two key reasons why Alonso is destined to become a top manager, regardless of whether his future is with Leverkusen or one of his former clubs.
“He’s played for top teams and he’s had great managers who he’s learned from,” Frimpong told SPORTbible when asked about the Spaniard.
“He’s had Pep [Guardiola], [Carlo] Ancelotti, [Jose] Mourinho – all of them. He was bound to be a great manager with all the experience he’s had.
“How he’s putting [information] to the players at Leverkusen, we all enjoy playing under him. We really play football. He’s got all the trust of the players have his trust.
“On the pitch, [the style of play] gives us more of our strong abilities. Me and [Alex] Grimaldo, are abilities are to attack and go forward. Obviously we need to defend as well but it gives us that freedom. We’re really enjoying it.”
Alonso’s Leverkusen are maintaining an impeccable record in the Bundesliga this season, having not suffered a single defeat and conceding a mere 16 goals.
Their tactical approach, employing three defenders at the back with Frimpong and Grimaldo operating as attacking wing-backs, has made them a captivating team to observe in European football this season.
Frimpong offered insights into the meticulous preparations undertaken by Alonso when strategising against their adversaries.
He added: “He has his own style. Even when we’re on the training pitch and we’re doing the patterns. We all understand it and it makes sense. It gets us out of trouble.
“When teams are wanting to press us high, he has the solutions. Sometimes on the pitch you have the solutions but in the Bundesliga teams press good so it’s not every time where you’re going to pass, pass pass.
“Mistakes do happen. He’s really calm. There’s been times where we’ve been down and on the half-time talk he’s relaxed.
“That’s really important for the players. If the manager is calm, it can calm us as well and we don’t feel too much pressure.”
Alonso orchestrates the strategy, yet Leverkusen demonstrated astuteness by securing Granit Xhaka’s return to Germany from Arsenal in a £21.4 million deal last summer. The 31-year-old has reignited his career with Leverkusen, and Frimpong highlights his indispensable leadership qualities for this skilled team.
He explained: “Granit, his experience says it all. He’s helped us out a lot. He’s very important for the team. He has experience at the highest level and he’s bringing it to Leverkusen.
“For instance, Rob Andrich and Exequiel Palacios, they are working well with him. I feel like he’s bringing that experience to them and they’re taking it.
“Granit has a big voice in the team. Of course he’s not our captain but he is like a captain. When he speaks, we all listen and when he talks, it makes sense. He’s been very big for us.”
Leverkusen stand as one of Germany’s prominent clubs, having made it to the Champions League final in 2002 at Hampden Park. Despite their achievements, they have yet to clinch the Bundesliga title, coming close as runners-up five times. However, they currently find themselves in a promising position to rewrite history by challenging Bayern Munich, who have secured eleven consecutive titles.
Analysing the current placement, Frimpong commented: “As a footballer you want to win things. I don’t want to talk much about this league and then us not win it but one hundred per cent I want to win it.
“We’re in a great position to win it but you know how football goes. It can all change. We just have to stay concentrated and focused.
“In the Bundesliga there are great teams who can come back so let’s not get excited until towards the end, then we will see where we are. Then we can talk.”
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