Xabi Alonso praised his Bayer Leverkusen side for showing resilience to defeat Mainz on Friday night and set a new unbeaten record for a Bundesliga side.
The victory moved Leverkusen 11 points clear at the top of the German top-flight over Bayern Munich — who have a game in hand — and set a new unbeaten record for a German top-flight club of 33 matches across all competitions.
Alonso’s side have won 29 and drawn four of their 33 matches to date this term — the longest such run in German football history.
Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka gave Leverkusen a third-minute lead, but Dominik Kohr levelled five minutes later for the visitors.
Robert Andrich restored the home side’s lead in the 68th minute and Mainz were reduced to 10 players late on after Jessic Ngankam’s red card.
“It wasn’t our best game, but the three points are very important,” Alonso said after the match.
“We can enjoy the weekend and then we’ll move on. You cannot always play brilliantly.
“It was a very intense match. Mainz came with very good energy, which we had to respect. We were prepared for it, but it was not easy.”
Xhaka, who opened the scoring, told reporters after full-time: “We deserve to be where we are.
“When you are eight points, now 11 points, ahead of second-place Bayern, there is a lot to lose. But we’ll keep working day by day, game by game, stay positive, and I’m sure we’ll be able to keep getting our wins.”
Alonso continues to be linked with the managerial roles at both Liverpool and Bayern, which will both become vacant this summer when Jurgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel respectively depart their roles. Alonso represented both clubs during his playing career.
“It’s all just speculation, my head is totally here,” Alonso said on Friday when asked about his future. “We have so much to do, we’re in such a super position. So enjoying it, preparing, and that’s all that’s going on in my head.”
Bayern have won each of the most recent 11 Bundesliga titles while Leverkusen — who have been runners-up on five occasions in the past three decades — have never won the German top-flight.
(Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images)
