Xabi Alonso, with Clarín: praised Exequiel Palacios and told how his ambitions have changed after being world champion

When it comes to midfielders who were icons of an era, the name of Xabi Alonso. As a player, his career was a dream. He was world champion in 2010, played for clubs such as Real Madrid, Liverpool and Bayern Munich and showed class on the pitch that will be remembered by fans.. On the other hand, now as a coach of the Bayer Leverkusenis a voice more than authorized to analyze another who knows how much the most coveted trophy weighs: the Argentine Exequiel Palacioswho after his consecration in Qatar changed his ambition and made a qualitative leap in his performance.

At 41 he takes his first steps as a DT. Although he had a 3-year spell as manager of Real Sociedad B, For almost 6 months he took command of Leverkusen, where Palacios had little participation, affected by some injuries that complicated his presence.

When Xabi Alonso took over the team, the German outfit were penultimate in the table, but his arrival changed the face. Leverkusen reached eighth place, progressed to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League and scored a spectacular victory against Bayern Munich.

And there it was Palacios, world champion in Qatar 2022. The one who emerged in River has been at the club since the 2019/2020 season, but up to this moment it had not achieved the necessary continuity to demonstrate its full potential. However, since it is directed by Alonso his level went up, his confidence grew and he started to show his full potential.

clarion He was part of a round table with journalists from different parts of the world and was in charge of consulting the coach on the importance of Palacios since he arrived at the club, what is the contribution that Tucuman gives to his idea of ​​​​the game and what he believes in what are the 24-year-old’s greatest virtues.

“First, I think he’s buying it. The improvement comes organically from himself. The experience of the World Cup, with the role he had, makes him feel that he has that self-esteem. When you feel like you’re not, when you’re a world champion, and when you take that trophy, it gives you that edge of wanting more and having more ambition“, start.

Then, he underlined that the team’s improvement is due, in large part, to the contribution of Palacios and the great form in which he returned after the World Cup: “Pala is back from the World Cup, he’s been playing at an excellent level for two months. The great improvement of the team has come, in large part, thanks to the step forward that Pala has made in his game..

On the other hand, he underlined that dynamism and aggressiveness are the strongest aspects of his game, but that in recent times he has added a share of intelligence that allows him to make better decisions and be more time oriented. “Pala has that dynamism, that aggressiveness to recover the ball, but every time he interprets the sense of the game better, the moment of the match: when he has to play fast or a little slower, when to play short or in space. The better I played him, the better the team will play.”he founded.

And finally, he urged him to keep improving, as anything good Palacios can do will have a major influence on both Bayer Leverkusen’s performance and the results that can be achieved. “I invite you and motivate you to continue wanting to grow because it will make us much better”concluded.

Obviously, the trust that Xabi Alonso has in Exequiel Palacios is a fundamental point of his lift. Without going any further, in the 2-1 win against Bayern Munich, the Argentine was in charge kicks the two penalties that give the victory to his team. This is an example of how well regarded Palacios is and the high expectations that are placed on him.

Without a doubt, the coronation in Qatar 2022 also cannot be overlooked. A result of this magnitude, logically, inflates the morale of any player and, added to the fact that he is in an age of full maturity and learning, it is common to understand that his explosion in Europe is happening right now.