Xabi Alonso highlights defensive shortcomings after Leverkusen's win

The match saw Leverkusen clinch the win thanks to a late penalty rebound from Florian Wirtz.

In his post-match interview with DAZN, Alonso expressed concerns about his team's defensive performance. "We weren't compact enough and were too passive at times, especially in the first half.

Our defensive display fell short of the standards we set during our double-winning campaign," Alonso stated.

His comments reflect his dissatisfaction with how his side allowed Monchengladbach's new signings, Tim Kleindienst and Kevin Stoger, to influence the game.

Alonso pinpointed Stoger's ability to deliver passes and Kleindienst's presence as areas of weakness. "It was crucial not to give Stoger too much space for his passes and to better control Kleindienst.

"We made it too easy for them, which is below our standard," Alonso said.

He emphasised the need for improvement in both high pressing and defensive positioning, recognising that the team needs to strike a better balance between aggressive pressing and deeper defending.

With the transfer window closing on August 30, Alonso also discussed potential squad enhancements. "We have a solid squad, but there's always room for improvement.

"We've been in talks with Simon Rolfes, Fernando Carro, and Mr. Wenning to ensure we have a complete squad for the demanding season ahead," Alonso revealed.

Despite the defensive issues, Leverkusen's resilience shone through once again, with another dramatic late goal characterising their strong start to the season under Alonso's management.