{"id":3265,"date":"2024-04-15T03:48:41","date_gmt":"2024-04-15T03:48:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265"},"modified":"2024-04-15T03:48:41","modified_gmt":"2024-04-15T03:48:41","slug":"xabi-alonso-and-ex-arsenal-captain-granit-xhaka-react-as-leverkusen-win-bundesliga-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265","title":{"rendered":"Xabi Alonso and ex-Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka react as Leverkusen win Bundesliga | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\" img-container shareable-item wp-caption\" style=\"max-width:540px\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"sync\" width=\"644\" height=\"429\" data-rsz=\"shrink\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;zoom=1&amp;resize=644%2C429\" alt=\"Xabi Alonso guided Bayer Leverkusen to their first league title \" class=\"wp-image-20646695\" fetchpriority=\"high\"\/>\n<\/div><figcaption>Xabi Alonso guided Bayer Leverkusen to their first league title (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Bayer Leverkusen stormed to their first ever Bundesliga title with five games to spare after thrashing Werder Bremen.<\/p>\n<p>Bayern Munich, who had won the past 11 Bundesliga titles, beat Cologne on Saturday to delay Leverkusen\u2019s title celebrations.<\/p>\n<p>But an emphatic 5-0 victory over Bremen at BayArena on Sunday saw <a rel=\"nofollow\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/xabi-alonso\/?ico=auto_link_sport_P3_LNK1\">Xabi Alonso\u2019s side clinch their maiden Bundesliga title in fine style.<\/p>\n<p>Leverkusen, who are now chasing a treble with the German Cup and Europa League still in their sights, were in the relegation zone when Alonso took charge less than 18 months ago.<\/p>\n<p>Alonso\u2019s team are unbeaten in all competitions this season and sit 16 points ahead of Thomas Tuchel and Harry Kane\u2019s Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018This is a very special moment for the club,\u2019 an ecstatic Alonso said. \u2018After 120 years, to win the Bundesliga for the first time is something extraordinary.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018The players really performed, they were a top team together. I am so proud of all of them. For me, it\u2019s on honour to work here.<\/p>\n<figure class=\" img-container shareable-item wp-caption\" style=\"max-width:540px\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"540\" height=\"360\" data-rsz=\"shrink\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147810873.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;zoom=1&amp;resize=540%2C360\" alt=\"Fans took to the pitch after Leverkusen's title win\" class=\"wp-image-20646750\"\/>\n<\/div><figcaption>Fans took to the pitch after Leverkusen\u2019s title win (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018Finally, we can say Bayer Leverkusen is a German champion. It\u2019s a huge honour for all of us. It was totally earned by the team, by the club, by the fans.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Everyone, all departments, were working and fighting for this title so we are a result of that hard work over many years.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"post-strip trending-post-strip\" data-nosnippet=\"\" data-vars-type=\"trending-post-strip\" data-track-module=\"trending-post-strip_article\">\n<h3 class=\"zopo-more\">More <a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/trending\/?ico=trending-post-strip_more\">Trending<br \/>\n<\/h3>\n<p>Read More Stories<\/aside>\n<p>\u2018This is a moment to enjoy and a huge success for this club. The first title is always special for everyone. So to be part of this history feels incredible.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Xhaka ended his seven-year spell with Arsenal to join Bayer Leverkusen last season and says winning the Bundesliga in his first season back in Germany is \u2018unbelievable\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018It\u2019s difficult to find the right words [to sum up his emotions],\u2019 the ex-Gunners captain said. \u2018To come back after my first season in the league is unbelievable.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018We had a great season, a great game, not first half but second half we did well, and now we enjoy.\u00a0<\/p>\n<figure class=\" img-container shareable-item wp-caption\" style=\"max-width:540px\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"540\" height=\"360\" data-rsz=\"shrink\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147810968.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;zoom=1&amp;resize=540%2C360\" alt=\"Alonso's side could yet win a treble this season\" class=\"wp-image-20646754\"\/>\n<\/div><figcaption>Alonso\u2019s side could yet win a treble this season (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>\u2018When you kick a ball at a young age, you dream of moments like this. It was hard work day by day, with everyone who was included in this club.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u2018In my 14 years football career, it\u2019s special for me, but even more special for this club. Now we want more, and to take the others one as well.\u2019<\/p>\n<p>Bayer Leverkusen now turn their attentions to the second leg of their Europa League quarter-final against West Ham. They travel to east London on Thursday night with a 2-0 advantage from the first leg.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>For more stories like this,\u00a0<a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/sport\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/sport\/\">check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"\"><strong>Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on <meta charset=\"utf-8\"\/><br \/>\n<strong>Facebook,\u00a0<\/strong><a rel=\"nofollow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Metro_Sport\">Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>\n\t<span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\"><br \/>\n\tMORE : Emiliano Martinez expresses \u2018love\u2019 for Arsenal after Aston Villa dent his former club\u2019s title hopes<br \/>\n\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t<span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\"><br \/>\n\tMORE : Gary Neville questions Mikel Arteta tactics and rates Arsenal\u2019s title chances after Aston Villa defeat<br \/>\n\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<p>\n\t<span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\"><br \/>\n\tMORE : Paul Merson slams Arsenal defender Ben White for \u2018jumping out of tackles\u2019 against Aston Villa<br \/>\n\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"metro-email-signup-recpatcha_text\">This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<!-- Article below content widget area --><\/p>\n<p class=\"follow-promo\">\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"img-align-center aligncenter size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Sports-general-9ea8.png?w=540&amp;strip=true&amp;quality=90\" alt=\"General Sport\" width=\"540\" height=\"304\"\/><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><script>\n              window.fbApi = (function () {\n                var fbApiInit = false;\n                var awaitingReady = [];\n                var notifyQ = function () {\n                  var i = 0,\n                    l = awaitingReady.length;\n                  for (i = 0; i < l; i++) {\n                    awaitingReady[i]();\n                  }\n                };\n\n                var ready = function (cb) {\n                  if (fbApiInit) {\n                    cb();\n                  } else {\n                    awaitingReady.push(cb);\n                  }\n                };\n\n                var checkLoaded = function () {\n                  return fbApiInit;\n                };\n\n                window.fbAsyncInit = function () {\n                  FB.init({\n                    appId: '176908729004638',\n                    xfbml: true,\n                    version: 'v2.10'\n                  });\n\n                  fbApiInit = true;\n                  notifyQ();\n                };\n\n                return {\n                  'ready'  : ready,\n                  'loaded' : checkLoaded\n                };\n\n              })();\n\n              (function () {\n                function injectFBSDK() {\n                  if ( window.fbApi &#038;&#038; window.fbApi.loaded() ) return;\n\n                  var d = document,\n                    s=\"script\",\n                    id = 'facebook-jssdk';\n                  var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];\n                  if (d.getElementById(id)) {\n                    return;\n                  }\n                  js = d.createElement(s);\n                  js.id = id;\n                  js.async = true;\n                  js.src = \"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js\";\n                  fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);\n                }\n\n                if (window.metro) {\n                  window.addEventListener('scroll', injectFBSDK, {once: true, passive: true});\n                } else {\n                  window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', injectFBSDK, {once: true});\n                }\n              })();\n\t\t\t<\/script><script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/> Xabi Alonso and ex-Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka react as Leverkusen win Bundesliga | Football<br \/>\n<br \/>#Xabi #Alonso #exArsenal #captain #Granit #Xhaka #react #Leverkusen #win #Bundesliga #Football<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Xabi Alonso guided Bayer Leverkusen to their first league title (Picture: Getty) Bayer Leverkusen stormed&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3266,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[6],"tags":[1502,2041,759,2037,317,2038,1473,2040,362,1501,2039],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v19.10 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Xabi Alonso and ex-Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka react as Leverkusen win Bundesliga | Football - International Pulse<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Xabi Alonso and ex-Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka react as Leverkusen win Bundesliga | Football - International Pulse\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Xabi Alonso guided Bayer Leverkusen to their first league title (Picture: Getty) Bayer Leverkusen stormed...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"International Pulse\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-04-15T03:48:41+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;zoom=1&amp;resize=644%2C429\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"admin\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265\",\"name\":\"Xabi Alonso and ex-Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka react as Leverkusen win Bundesliga | Football - International Pulse\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/#website\"},\"datePublished\":\"2024-04-15T03:48:41+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-04-15T03:48:41+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/#\/schema\/person\/d507bf8682a9ef7e3ad7a69d9db5e1c3\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Xabi Alonso and ex-Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka react as Leverkusen win Bundesliga | Football\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/\",\"name\":\"International Pulse\",\"description\":\"There&#039;s a different sound here\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/#\/schema\/person\/d507bf8682a9ef7e3ad7a69d9db5e1c3\",\"name\":\"admin\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f8e3f392738821708fe4235b6ffa7215?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f8e3f392738821708fe4235b6ffa7215?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"admin\"},\"sameAs\":[\"http:\/\/demo6.aiwalls.com\/automatic-news\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?author=1\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Xabi Alonso and ex-Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka react as Leverkusen win Bundesliga | Football - International Pulse","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"Xabi Alonso and ex-Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka react as Leverkusen win Bundesliga | Football - International Pulse","og_description":"Xabi Alonso guided Bayer Leverkusen to their first league title (Picture: Getty) Bayer Leverkusen stormed...","og_url":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265","og_site_name":"International Pulse","article_published_time":"2024-04-15T03:48:41+00:00","og_image":[{"url":"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;zoom=1&amp;resize=644%2C429"}],"author":"admin","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"admin","Est. reading time":"3 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265","url":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265","name":"Xabi Alonso and ex-Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka react as Leverkusen win Bundesliga | Football - International Pulse","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/#website"},"datePublished":"2024-04-15T03:48:41+00:00","dateModified":"2024-04-15T03:48:41+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/#\/schema\/person\/d507bf8682a9ef7e3ad7a69d9db5e1c3"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?p=3265#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Xabi Alonso and ex-Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka react as Leverkusen win Bundesliga | Football"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/#website","url":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/","name":"International Pulse","description":"There&#039;s a different sound here","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/#\/schema\/person\/d507bf8682a9ef7e3ad7a69d9db5e1c3","name":"admin","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f8e3f392738821708fe4235b6ffa7215?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/f8e3f392738821708fe4235b6ffa7215?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"admin"},"sameAs":["http:\/\/demo6.aiwalls.com\/automatic-news"],"url":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?author=1"}]}},"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867_1713131669.jpg",1200,630,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867_1713131669-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867_1713131669-300x158.jpg",300,158,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867_1713131669-768x403.jpg",640,336,true],"large":["https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867_1713131669-1024x538.jpg",640,336,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867_1713131669.jpg",1200,630,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867_1713131669.jpg",1200,630,false],"covernews-slider-full":["https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867_1713131669-1115x630.jpg",1115,630,true],"covernews-slider-center":["https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867_1713131669-800x500.jpg",800,500,true],"covernews-featured":["https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867_1713131669-1024x538.jpg",1024,538,true],"covernews-medium":["https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867_1713131669-540x340.jpg",540,340,true],"covernews-medium-square":["https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/GettyImages-2147809867_1713131669-400x250.jpg",400,250,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"admin","author_link":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?author=1"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/?cat=6\" rel=\"category\">Sports<\/a>","tag_info":"Sports","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3265"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3265"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3265\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3266"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3265"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3265"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalpulse.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3265"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}