Alonso lauds Leverkusen´s ´big heart´ as they avoid DFB-Pokal upset

Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso was delighted with the reaction his side showed after they won a dramatic DFB-Pokal quarter-final against second-tier Cologne.

Alonso’s team trailed 2-1 until the final seconds of the game, when Patrik Schick’s equaliser took the tie to extra time, during which Victor Boniface bagged the goal that won his side the game 3-2.

Schick’s brace took him to 20 goals for the season, becoming just the fourth Leverkusen player to hit that mark in multiple campaigns after Ulf Kirsten, Stefan Kiessling and Dimitar Berbatov.

Having knocked out Bayern Munich in the round of 16 before Christmas, the current holders have every chance of retaining their trophy in May, with Stuttgart standing between them and a place in the final.

Alonso said: “I am satisfied to have reached the semi-final.

“It was a very tough game against a very good opponent. But we showed a good reaction.

“It was maybe not our best game, but we played with a big heart. We fought until the last minute to reach this stage.”

Admin running to change all the “We exit the cup” full time graphics like… pic.twitter.com/9hYA24P5BP

— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) February 5, 2025

Alonso became only the third manager since the turn of the millennium to win each of his first 10 matches in the DFB-Pokal, after Louis van Gaal and Pep Guardiola.

The highly-rated coach has also won 10 straight home matches in all competitions with Leverkusen, who are also fighting to retain the Bundesliga and are into the last 16 of the Champions League.