Xabi Alonso mentioned it was an honour to handle Bayer Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title after the runaway leaders clinched the trophy in model with a 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen.
Leverkusen have been topped German champions for the primary time of their 120-year historical past with a dominant win which noticed Florian Wirtz web a second-half hat-trick at an ecstatic BayArena.
Victor Boniface had opened the scoring from the penalty spot earlier than Granit Xhaka doubled the lead with a long-range effort.
WE LOVE YOU XABI! #Winnerkusen #DeutscherMeisterSVB @XabiAlonso pic.twitter.com/haCil7N4fH
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) April 14, 2024
Alonso, who dedicated his future to Leverkusen after being linked with former golf equipment Liverpool and Bayern Munich earlier this season, lauded the “particular” achievement after successful his first main trophy in administration.
“This success is particular for everybody, for your entire membership. It belongs to so many individuals,” the 42-year-old Spaniard mentioned after the match, as reported by Kicker.
“We have now to get pleasure from successful this for your entire membership. The primary championship in 120 years. It’s an honour to be a part of it and dealing right here. At present we need to rejoice, with household, buddies and followers.”
Leverkusen stay unbeaten throughout a fairy-tale marketing campaign which might but yield much more silverware.
They maintain a 2-0 first-leg lead over West Ham within the Europa League quarter-finals – the second leg takes place in London on Thursday – and now have a DFB Pokal ultimate in opposition to Kaiserslautern to sit up for subsequent month.
“It will not be the final celebration of the present season,” Alonso added.
“We nonetheless have an enormous objective within the Europa League. We have now a superb likelihood to be within the semi-finals and likewise within the cup, the sensation is unbelievable.”
Boniface opened the scoring in opposition to Werder with a Twenty fifth-minute penalty earlier than former Arsenal captain Xhaka made it 2-0 on the hour.
Wirtz then took centre stage, including a 3rd within the 68th minute to all however finish any doubts in regards to the end result or title, earlier than the 20-year-old accomplished his hat-trick with two extra targets within the closing phases.
Wirtz mentioned: “It’s indescribable. I can’t even realise it but. I have to be within the dressing room for some time to get my head round what we’ve achieved.”
Fellow Germany worldwide Jonas Hofmann, who joined Leverkusen final summer season from Borussia Monchengladbach, added: “Every thing actually flows via the physique. You don’t know: must you snicker? Do you have to cry? It’s actually indescribable, I wouldn’t have dreamed of this a yr in the past, within the first yr to do it right away. That’s simply superior.
“We continually pushed ourselves to the restrict each recreation, regardless of who was taking part in. We have been all the time there, all the time current.
It occurred #Winnerkusen #DeutscherMeisterSVB pic.twitter.com/8xWzytds9j
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) April 14, 2024
“This season you possibly can see that everybody is required in order that the extent doesn’t (drop) off. Then you definitely’ll have the ability to play like that in three competitions. The coach is setting a brutal instance of that.”
Leverkusen’s success ends Bayern’s 11-year reign as German champions, with Borussia Dortmund again in 2012 the final workforce to disclaim them high spot.
Bayern, who’re at the moment an enormous 16 factors behind Leverkusen after a largely disappointing season for Thomas Tuchel’s aspect, have been fast to applaud the brand new title winners.
After eleven titles in a row: #FCBayern congratulates Bayer 04 Leverkusen on turning into 2023/24 German champions.
— FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) April 14, 2024
“Congratulations to Bayer Leverkusen on a historic first Bundesliga title within the membership’s historical past,” Bayern president Herbert Hainer mentioned.
“The title goes completely deservedly to Leverkusen – it’s the reward for an impressive season and nice soccer.
Bayern chief government Jan-Christian Dreesen added: “They’ve had a flawless season to this point, the workforce have demonstrated braveness, class and above all consistency, and that’s why they need to be 2024 German champions.”
