Bayer Leverkusen Aims To Show Team Completeness Against Bayern Munich Without Wirtz

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Bayer Leverkusen's head coach, Xabi Alonso, is confident his team can demonstrate their strength against Bayern Munich in the Champions League, despite the absence of Florian Wirtz due to injury. Wirtz suffered an ankle ligament injury during a Bundesliga match against Werder Bremen and will be sidelined for several weeks. This setback comes after Leverkusen's 3-0 defeat to Bayern in the first leg of their last-16 tie.

Alonso remains optimistic about overcoming the odds without Wirtz. "I am really sorry for him because he was in a top moment," Alonso stated. "Now it is a good moment to show we are a complete team and that we can go on without him." He emphasised that unexpected events can occur once the match begins, making it crucial for Leverkusen to approach the game with determination.

Leverkusen aims to become only the fifth team in Champions League history to overturn a three-goal deficit from the first leg of a knockout stage tie. The teams that have achieved this feat include Deportivo de La Coruña, Barcelona, Roma, and Liverpool. Despite the daunting task ahead, Alonso believes a comeback is possible if his players maintain self-belief and fight until the end.

Wirtz has been instrumental for Leverkusen this season, scoring nine league goals and providing ten assists. In the Champions League, he has netted six times. His absence will also affect Germany's Nations League quarter-final matches against Italy on March 20 and March 23, as well as the DFB-Pokal semi-finals against Arminia Bielefeld on April 1.

Alonso stressed the importance of belief among both players and fans as they face Bayern Munich again. "The first thing we have to do is to believe, and for the fans to also believe from the first second that we can do it," he said. He urged his team to play with heart, passion, and intelligence, highlighting that they have nothing to lose in this high-stakes encounter.

The coach sees Wirtz's injury as an additional motivation for his squad. "The injury could also be a boost, to say we fight for the big game but also for Flo," Alonso explained. He believes that with determination and unity, Leverkusen can achieve something remarkable against Bayern Munich.

Despite Bayern fans' confidence in advancing further in the competition, Alonso's focus remains on inspiring his players to seize this opportunity. The upcoming match presents a chance for Leverkusen to defy expectations and create an unforgettable moment in their Champions League journey.