BERLIN: Bayer Leverkusen midfielder Granit Xhaka said on Saturday “it is a dream” to play under Xabi Alonso after a 3-0 win at Werder Bremen helped his team back to the top of the Bundesliga.
The victory — Leverkusen’s 17th in 18 fixtures this season — reestablished their two-point lead over second-placed Bayern Munich.
Xhaka joined Leverkusen in the close-season from Premier League side Arsenal, where he played under Alonso’s childhood friend Mikel Arteta.
“It’s a dream for me to play under Xabi Alonso, he was a world-class player in the same position as me — I played against him myself,” Xhaka told Sky Germany.
“He gives me things that I can take...
“We have a great team, a great coach and a great mentality.
“We work hard daily and you can see the results on the ground.”
Xhaka is one of several summer signings to impress this season, along with Alex Grimaldo, who scored in the win over Bremen, Victor Boniface and Jonas Hofmann.
Leverkusen’s blistering start has some talking of a potential maiden Bundesliga title, but Xhaka was careful not to look too far into the future.
“Nothing is a foregone conclusion. We need to continue to work and see where we end up,” he said.
“In football, anything is possible.
“We must continue to keep our feet on the ground, and we will see what will happen.”
Playing under Alonso ‘a dream’ for Leverkusen’s Xhaka
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Playing under Alonso ‘a dream’ for Leverkusen’s Xhaka
- The victory reestablished their two-point lead over second-placed Bayern Munich
- “It’s a dream for me to play under Xabi Alonso, he was a world-class player in the same position as me,” Xhaka told Sky Germany
Marmoush double helps Man City to 3-1 win at Newcastle and place in FA Cup quarters
- Guardiola made 10 changes for the fifth-round tie from the team that drew 2-2 at home to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday
NEWCASTLE, England: Manchester City’s Omar Marmoush struck twice as the visitors roared back from a goal down to beat Newcastle United 3–1 on Saturday and storm into the FA Cup quarter-finals for the eighth consecutive season.
The win keeps Pep Guardiola’s side on track for a fourth successive FA Cup final appearance, and keeps alive the chance of an elusive quadruple — Premier League, Champions League, League Cup and FA Cup trophies in a single season.
“This is the best performance we have played in this stadium since my decade here,” Guardiola told TNT Sports. “That is consistency and that is why I am proud.”
Newcastle got off to a bright start and Harvey Barnes ran onto a through ball before firing into the far corner in the 18th minute to give the hosts the lead.
Seven-times FA Cup winners City, who are second in the Premier League, then flexed their muscles and Savinho equalized in the 39th with a bizarre goal when Jeremy Doku’s ball behind the defense rolled to the Brazilian and bounced in off his leg.
Marmoush scored the first of his two goals — and seventh against Newcastle since joining City in January last year — in the 47th when Matheus Nunes found him unmarked with a low ball across the face of goal and he fired into the roof of the net.
Marmoush completed his double in the 65th minute in similar fashion, latching onto a Nunes cross and striking a fierce shot.
There was no chance of a hat-trick as Guardiola sent Antoine Semenyo on the Egyptian’s place shortly after.
The manager, who was animated all night, waving his arms and jumping up and down, wrapped Marmoush in a huge hug as the forward headed to the bench.
“A decent performance, we didn’t start so well,” Marmoush told TNT. “We conceded early, but we showed our mentality and our passion on the pitch ... we’re very happy to go to the next round.”
Guardiola made 10 changes for the fifth-round tie from the team that drew 2-2 at home to Nottingham Forest on Wednesday.
City’s Premier League-leading scorer Erling Haaland was not part of the squad ahead of an intense run of fixtures, including a Champions League last-16 clash at Real Madrid on Wednesday.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe felt his players “maybe ran out of gas, certainly in the second half but also toward the end of the first half.
“They really stretched us,” he told TNT. “You have to say they were a very good side.”
