Still has to think about parts of his match plan: Xabi Alonso.
IMAGO/Jan Hübner

Every time Xabi Alonso draws up a match plan, the Spaniard takes these different scenarios into account: “In my game plan there is always a plan from the beginning and also one of how to react in certain situations,” explained the 43-year-old. year-old one day before the cup clash in Munich, where attacker Martin Terrier (after a forearm fracture) and (left) defender Jeanuel Belocian (after ankle surgery) are available to him again for the first time.

The return of these two professionals, which means that the hospital, which was now occupied by six players, is now only half as busy, increases the options that Xabi Alonso can take into account in his match plan. “If I have more players with me, I have more options to make decisions. With Martin and Jeanuel we have good power to have a good impact from the bench,” the coach openly explains the role of the duo.

Kane’s failure makes it difficult for Xabi Alonso to control

The coach would also like to have as much clarity as his Munich colleague Vincent Kompany decided, who has to replace goal machine Harry Kane (torn hamstring). Basically, the Englishman’s loss weakens the record champions, but conversely it makes it more difficult for Xabi Alonso to create his match plan. The line-up of the Munich offensive is less predictable for Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso because of the many possible variants.

“Kane is a very important player, but they have a lot of options with Müller, Gnabry, Olise, Tel,” explains the Basque, “they quickly have two players in each position in attack – we’ll wait to see who plays tomorrow. We don’t know that and we can’t control it. But control is the top priority in Xabi Alonso’s football thinking.

Normally Bayern are always favorites in Munich.

These question marks will only disappear on Tuesday evening, an hour before kick-off, when both teams have to announce their lineups. Regardless of how Kompany decides to replace striker Kane, Xabi Alonso’s starting position in this duel is clear.

“There is no more difficult game than in the Allianz Arena,” emphasizes the former world-class player, who laced up his boots for the record champions from 2014 to 2017, “usually when Bayern play there in the league, in the Champions League and also in the .” Cup, they are always favorites. It is a big challenge for us. Tomorrow will be a quick finale for us.