Alonso hails Leverkusen´s ´top mentality´ after breaking away Bundesliga record

Xabi Alonso credited Bayer Leverkusen’s “top mentality” after he became the first coach in Bundesliga history to go 28 away games without defeat.

Leverkusen won 2-0 at Holstein Kiel on Saturday, closing the gap to league leaders Bayern Munich to five points, ahead of their meeting with Eintracht Frankfurt on Sunday.

In-form striker Patrik Schick volleyed Leverkusen into a ninth-minute lead before Amine Adli, the assister of that goal, scored with a lobbed finish on the stroke of half-time.

Alonso has now gone 28 successive away games without defeat, a longer run than any other coach has managed in Bundesliga history.

Speaking to reporters after the win, which made it seven games unbeaten in all competitions for the reigning Bundesliga champions, Alonso said he was delighted with the control his team exerted.

“We have developed a top mentality, and this is what this record shows,” Alonso said.

28 – Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso is now unbeaten in 28 consecutive Bundesliga away gamea (W20 D8), a new competition-record for a coach. Wanderlust. #KSVB04 pic.twitter.com/KTeQc4G0FO

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“We are efficient, we are stable and want to keep doing that. In the next away game against Eintracht Frankfurt we want to show our qualities again.

“We controlled the game and dominated even though it was not easy. After the last two draws it was even more important to have an away win.”

Leverkusen go to Eintracht for their next league game in a week’s time, before taking on Bayern in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie four days later.