Why Xabi Alonso’s football is different

The Bayer Leverkusen unbeaten streak is over. But the Xabi Alonso era is only just beginning. Here's my in-depth analysis of the tactical revolution that ended Bayern's dominance and set a 51-game unbeaten streak that will go down in history.

It might just change our perception of elite football management.

Sections:
0:00 51 games unbeaten
0:47 Standby
1:50 I: Don't follow the rules
5:14 II: Move your opponent
8:32 III: Attack to defend
10:13 IV: Think fast
13:17 V: Change the game
15:30 Bonus

[favouramoul]

i believe their success is due to many teams using zonal defensive structures that's why they struggled against a strict man to man press of Atlanta and also the physicality of Atlanta's players compared to Leverkusen

[reidpattis]

Welcome back, man. Despite the drama happening recently from the footballing world, it's always nice to see some cool-headed analysis and understand the game better. <3

[timx]

This is the best channel of this kind. Brilliant analysis, but more importantly, the way of communicating it is just amazing. I enjoyed every second of this video.

[thecatalysthd]

This is an excellent video. You can see some similarities between Bayer and Bologna with the proximity in possession and players filling spaces. The listening to players and having open dialogue in that fashion sounds akin to what Ancelotti does with his players, like his asking his senior players input in what training sessions they think should be done like at Chelsea

[mannion]

This Leverkusen season has been one of my favourite teams to watch of any season since I started watching football 25 years ago. Love seeing a manager come in and completely revolutionise tactics in football. Alonso's ideas could be the blueprint for other managers all over the world. Let's see where this takes football over the next 10 years! Thanks Xabi, Leverkusen and Purist Football

[lucasdavis]

What an amazing season. Unfortunately lost the Europa to Bergamo Calcio, but still a fantastic run. The sheer number of stoppage time goals, the comebacks. One of the best in recent memory.

[AndresMonge]

The next video should be about Sebastian Hoeness' Stuttgart

[GregorySpikeMD]

I'm not sure I agree with your analysis that total football was about rigid juego de posicion. It may have evolved into that with Guardiola, but Cruyff put a big emphasis in total football on shifting positions between players and fluidity. In that fluidity, players were expected to be able to perform several positions, so in that sense it left a lot to the players still, at least in my opinion.

[lausymaus]

OMG the quality is going through the roof, have a great day my friend! this is super interesting.

[oluwademiladesamuel]

Would like to see something from you about Stuttgart and Hoeneß.

[trichon]

The question I ask myself is how he teaches his players making the right positional decisions. How do you tell a player what the right space to occupy is, when you don’t have a rational system like positional zones or a formation for support. Is the solution you don’t tell them at all and rely on try and error in retrospective? Are there principles that guide the players and what could they look like?

[mooocowable]

How this channel doesn’t have more subscribers is beyond me. This is the best in depth and insightful football content on YT. Your communication with visuals and words are so efficient.

[Coach-rqjx]

Patiently waiting for his inevitable stint at Real Madrid. We have very intelligent players who constantly make good decisions on the pitch and work well in close proximity, thanks to Ancelotti and his wonderful system. I don't want Ancelotti to leave, but if he does, Xabi Alonso will do great work.

[attobrahnuhu]

this video couldn't have been made better. you landed a new subscriber.

[sssf]

Ironically Atalanta have a similar philosophy of baiting opponents into a press and breaking quickly. Alonso, Gasperini, Inzaghi, Ten Hag and Kieran McKenna all actually utilize this concept to varying degrees of success. It will be fascinating to see next season how each style will develop and who will succeed with this philosophy of football.

[ajabisong]

A beautiful analysis, especially the final point "V. Change the game"!

[kaiserfakinaway]

Xabi is what I wanted Pep to be, beautiful possession based football but not so rigid that players don't most of the time know what to do when push comes to shove (for example the FA Cup final). I always thought Ancellotti listening to players as awesome and managers should give players a bit more freedom and Xabi's tactics prove just that.

Lovely vid once again, thank you.

[dp]

What a season for Leverkusen!! You should do a video on Atalanta

[DiogoGaming]

Today i was really thinking about this Xabi Alonso Leverkusen and my mind made an interesting paradox with a team that Xabi played for... Not really a team, a national team, Spain... from 2008, 2010, 2012 but 2012 was the peak of that team, playing with 6 midfielders, without proper wingers or striker, a lot of short passes, movement between players and combinations, with close distance from players, i really believe Xabi was very much inspired by that team tbh, and he was a big part of that

[mathavila]

And the player proximity position game of Leverkusen game was defeated by the high press game of Atalanta

That is how you defeat a crazy team: being more crazy than them