May 22nd, Beijing time 3:00, May 23rd, the UEFA Cup final will usher in the match between Leverkusen and Atalanta. Before the match, Leverkusen's manager Harvey
Alonso
Attended the press conference and talked about the injury regarding player Gaya, the upcoming games and the team.
Alonso said he has great respect for Kroos and believes Gaya is an iconic figure and an icon. He said, "I respect him, he marked an era, he is an icon. I respect him a lot, he will be remembered for his qualities, what he did and he will enjoy his last game in Europe. He was a world-class player, almost unique in his time."
goalkeeper candidate
: Alonso confirmed that "Koval will be in goal tomorrow and then we'll see."
Thoughts on Atlanta
: Alonso said, "We know that Atalanta's style of play in recent years has been very clear, the players know what they have to do on the field, and they have achieved good results. We know this, but it also continues to evolve: sometimes their attitude is more wait-and-see and not always aggressive. Even in Germany we have faced teams like this and tomorrow we will need a united performance, a strong mentality and team spirit."
Player Status
: Speaking about Hick and Hrzog, Alonso said, "I'm very happy with both of their performances, at this point in the season we need all the players we can get, and we finished the season well. We know what Hick is capable of and he knows how to capitalize on timing. Hrozek played an important role, he was great against Roma, he deserves credit and I'm happy with them."
Wiltz's chances of getting on the field
: Alonso said, "He has an important role to play and he can come on from the first minute. We'll see, the decision is mine."
Alonso mentioned, "My focus is on preparing for the game, not on anything in particular. We have played 51 games, analyzed everything and the players understand the different situations. It's as if the mission has been accomplished and now it's time to give it all in the next two games."
On Boniface, Alonso said, "It's a good question and it certainly takes time after an injury. We have a very big team, everyone wants to play and I like it when people who can't play try to prove me wrong. I'm happy with Boniface, he's had a great year."
Alonso spoke, "I'm looking forward to it, but the focus is on the players. We haven't started to prepare today and luckily I have a great team. Tomorrow my mood is positive, I have a lot of respect for Atalanta, but we are confident in our ability and our mentality."
Alonso said last year's semi-final loss had motivated the team: "We definitely have a lot of motivation and we've talked about the disappointment of last year. We were very close to the final and we used that loss to work harder for success. If you're in the final you go for the win, like every race, it's a different story and it's time to give a good last effort of the season."
Speaking about tactics and mentality, Alonso said, "We have to try to capitalize on timing. But we must also be careful in the non-possession phase. We have our own arrows to shoot and tomorrow will definitely be a great challenge."
Alonso revealed that they practiced penalties throughout their European tour: "We practiced throughout our European tour, you can't predict how it will turn out, but we definitely practiced."
On Cologne's relegation, Alonso said, "I followed the game and it's a shame for Cologne that they will have to fight for promotion again next season. The derby won't happen, but right now it's not my priority to be honest."
Alonso mentioned that he has learned a lot from coaches Jose Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and Pep Guardiola: "I've had great experiences with all three of them and other great coaches. I've learned a lot from my playing career, you learn from mistakes and from the good things we do every day. You keep getting better through training and the last two seasons have helped me grow a lot."
Alonso emphasized the team's winning mentality: "We have the confidence to keep going forward. We know we can create chances, even in the last minute, and that's the basis of the winning mentality we've built this season. That means a lot to us. From the start of the season, we believed in that, in the way we wanted to play, and that helped us win."
Alonso thinks it will be a special race: "It will be the first time I have the opportunity to meet Gasperini, which is an honor. He has a lot of experience and is a great coach. The systems of play may be similar, but it all depends on the level of the players and their judgment in certain situations. Atalanta is a special team and when you analyze this team you learn a lot. But soccer is more dynamic than a fixed model, soccer is a movie and a module is just a painting."
