Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso said he was ready for a big night after his club sealed the double on Saturday, telling reporters: “I’m not going to work tomorrow.”
Asked if he would celebrate with the players in the German capital before the club returns to Leverkusen for a parade on Sunday, Alonso replied “of course”.
“We need to enjoy it. We need to release the tension of the entire season.
“I will not work tomorrow.”
Leverkusen won the Bundesliga unbeaten – the club’s first league title – and lifted the German Cup on Saturday after Granit Xhaka scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory over Kaiserslautern.
Alonso’s first full season as a top-level coach ended with a Bundesliga and German Cup double, a Europa League final and an impressive record of just one defeat in 53 games.
Leverkusen’s only defeat came in Wednesday’s Europa League final against Serie A side Atalanta, but Alonso’s men recovered doggedly.
“I need a little more time to understand this. It was a dream season. Being able to celebrate here is incredible – we need to enjoy it,” Alonso told German network ARD.
The manager, who rejected supposed interest from Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Real Madrid in staying at Leverkusen this season, was accompanied by chants of “Xabi Alonso” from delirious fans, whose club had only won two trophies before this season.
“Of course I’m happy, but I’m especially proud of the players. The double is fully deserved,” said the Spaniard.
The victory put Alonso to the test as he has rarely done this season, with Leverkusen reduced to 10 men at the end of the first half following centre-back Odilon Kossounou’s second yellow card.
Pictured with his head in his hands on the bench moments later, the 42-year-old brought down striker Patrik Schick and winger Jonas Hofmann as his team sat deeper and attacked on the counter.
Despite the one-man advantage, Kaiserslautern were controlled by the German champions, with few clear-cut opportunities in the second half.
“We quickly analyze who we can change,” Alonso said.
“We played well and created good opportunities, but the most important thing was the team’s confidence.
“They were ready to fight with 10 men and finish it.”
Leverkusen joins Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund, Werder Bremen, Cologne and Schalke as the only clubs to have won the German domestic double.
Alonso, a two-time Champions League winner as a player, will return to Europe’s top competition with Leverkusen next season when the final will be held at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
“I’m not thinking about next season,” the coach laughed.
“Holiday, holiday. Maybe after a week, but let’s enjoy it and celebrate it.”
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