It is questionable whether Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso can rely on Exequiel Palacios in the big game in Munich. Robert Andrich would rotate into the eleven for the Argentine, which could even turn into an advantage for Bayer 04, but it doesn’t have to.
Could start in Munich: Robert Andrich. IMAGO/Sven Simon
When 15 national players are on international travel, a coach has to be prepared for a number of scenarios. Who will return to their club before the next game, when and in what condition? However, going through all eventualities in advance would be a waste of time.
But there is one constellation that Xabi Alonso definitely has to think about, namely whether he will field Exequiel Palacios alongside Granit Xhaka in the double six. After all, the Argentine will only return to Leverkusen from South America on Thursday in order to fly to Munich with Bayer 04 on Friday morning.
After two and a half days, most of which the 24-year-old will have spent on planes or at airports, there is at least a question mark over Palacios’ deployment.
If he is not in shape to play in Munich (from the start), it would be a bitter loss given his top form. Especially since it is not clear to his potential replacement and competitor Robert Andrich how advanced the 28-year-old is in terms of competitive toughness and game rhythm.
So far, Andrich has only been used as a joker
Andrich, who was the absolute number 1 among Leverkusen’s six last season, started the preparation late after breaking his metatarsal and has so far only been used as a joker in the competitive games. On Thursday in the test against Alemannia Aachen (4:2) he was in action for the entire season for the first time – but as a central player in the three-man defense chain.
“Of course you still need the rhythm of the Bundesliga, then you’ll be really fit again,” says the midfielder, who says he’s ready but knows that in this case too the truth will be on the pitch. “There will be 90 minutes,” he says about his physical condition, “I’ll squeeze everything out and then I’ll see how much is really there.”
“He still has to get the last percent”
However, it is clear that despite a good performance curve he cannot yet be in top form. Likewise, the current 1b solution probably still lacks the necessary stamina after the long injury break. “Rob is getting better and better,” says Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes, “but he still has to get the last few percent.” The top game as the last step in the development program for Andrich – not the ideal.
Nevertheless, it is not unlikely that Xabi Alonso will rely on Andrich. Because even if the change to the double six were forced by the game plan, it could also develop into an advantage for Bayer. Since Palacios, who acts more as a figure eight, sometimes loses sight of protecting the backcourt, Andrich would be the more reliable player in this regard.
With Xhaka, who always acts extremely responsibly defensively, the latter could make the game in the Leverkusen center even more stable than it already was. Possibly a decisive factor against the Munich offensive with Jamal Musiala, who is probably back in action.
2023-09-14 10:22:21
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