Alonso confident Leverkusen can bounce back
Xabi Alonso is hopeful the short time he has had with his Bayer Leverkusen players will be sufficient to get them back to winning ways against Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga.
Leverkusen's 35-game unbeaten run in the competition ended when it lost at home to RB Leipzig ahead of the international break having gone the whole of the last league season without a defeat.
The international break has since reduced Alonso's preparation time for the trip to Hoffenheim, but the coach remains optimistic about his side's chances of bouncing back.
"It was an express preparation, with an express meeting with the team, and individual discussions," the Spaniard said ahead of the match on Friday.
"Friday is our last training session with the whole team. Of course, we don't have a lot of time to prepare for Saturday, but that's our normal dynamic.
"We will see if this express meeting was efficient or not."
Leverkusen needed a late goal to snatch a 3-2 win at Borussia Monchengladbach in its opening game this season before going down 3-2 against Leipzig, but the manager does not believe it is all doom and gloom just yet.
"We're doing a lot of things very well, but there are a few things we need to improve to reach our best level," he said.
"There aren't too many things, but there are important things to improve. Hopefully, we have a better performance, a more complete performance.
"It's a football and a mentality issue. We have to improve tactically, with the ball, but also with our mentality and concentration to improve and be a bit better."
The coach said that all his players returned healthy from international duty, and he took the time to back his defender Jonathan Tah after the German came under criticism from an opposition manager.
After the 2-2 UEFA Nations League draw between Germany and Netherlands, Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman said that Tah, who was replaced at half-time, had big problems and made a lot of mistakes.
"It's his opinion. My opinion is that Jonathan is a top player for us," Alonso said.
"What he did in the international break, the international game is not my topic. And he was here yesterday, in a good mood, with a good feeling, so that's my main concern."
