Xabi Alonso surprised: Hradecky starts in the cup semi-final!

Xabi Alonso surprised: Hradecky starts in the cup semi-final!

Olympiastadion Berlin, Deutschland - On April 1, Bayer Leverkusen experienced an exciting game in the DFB Cup when she met the third division club Arminia Bielefeld in a semi-finals. The team that had won the double last season is under great pressure to win further titles this season. Coach Xabi Alonso surprised with a remarkable decision: Matej Kovar, who had played all previous games in the goal this cup season, was put on the bench. Instead, captain Lukas Hradecky took responsibility in the box.

Kovar had shown impressive achievements against well-known opponents such as Jena, Elversberg, Bavaria Munich and Cologne and always ensured that Leverkusen continues. Nevertheless, Alonso chose Hradecky, who is considered a safe and sovereign goalkeeper. This decision could also have been influenced by Kovar’s recent mistakes in the Champions League second leg against Bayern Munich, in which the team resigned with 0: 3

kovar and the rumors about his future

Matej Kovar, who was obliged to replace Hradecky in the long term in 2023, is now faced with rumors about a possible departure in the coming summer. After the current season, in which Bayer Leverkusen is looking for a new goalkeeper as a German champion to compete with Hradecky, it could be difficult for Kovar to assert his place in the team. The pressure on the players is high, especially for a keeper who had to take a seat on the bench.

The effects of Alonso's decisions can be seen because the team focuses on the next goal: the DFB Cup. Bayer Leverkusen won the trophy last season by celebrating a narrow 1-0 win against 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the Olympic Stadium Berlin on May 25, 2024. The success in the cup is important for the entire team to reduce the pressure and to inspire fans with exciting games.

Leverkusen and the track record in the DFB Cup

Bayer Leverkusen has a rich story in the DFB Cup, which has made it to the final several times in the past decades. One of the most important successes is the title win in 1993 when they defeated the amateurs from Hertha BSC Berlin 1-0. In recent years, however, the club has often failed in the quarter -finals or in the first round. This year could be a turning point if the team takes on the pressure and takes the chance for the title. The list of previous winners shows how important this competition is for the teams of the Bundesliga and how quickly the dynamics can change in football.

How the development at Bayer Leverkusen is further is to be seen. The current decisions of Xabi Alonso are being pursued and could be decisive for the further course of the season.

Derwesten reports that Leverkusen is under pressure, while Yahoo Sports More refined information about the Bundesliga.