‘I came here at 14 to Kells, I enjoyed my summer’ – Xabi Alonso has fond Meath memories ahead of Europa League final
Xabi Alonso, head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, gestures as he is interviewed ahead of their Europa League final match against Atalanta at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Xabi Alonso has backed his remarkable Bayer Leverkusen side to keep up their astonishing run by landing the Europa League final on the familiar soil of Ireland on Wednesday night.
The former Liverpool star knows Ireland as he spent a summer in Co Meath studying English when he was a teenager.
He arrived in the capital with the Bundesliga title already wrapped up by Leverkusen ahead of their Europa clash with Atalanta, and also the chance for a remarkable treble in the weekend German Cup final clash with Bayern Munich, as his side are unbeaten all season.
Fan Zone in Dublin Castle ahead of the Europa League Final
“The focus is on the game, we have played 51 games, the players have this understanding of different situations and preparation, the job is done, now is the time to give our best and we will give our best on Wednesday night. The players are ready and well prepared, I have a good feeling that it won't be different,” he said at his pre-match press conference in Lansdowne Road, officially known as the Dublin Arena due to UEFA's ban on sponsors names.
Alonso played GAA during his stint as a student when he was 14, in Meath, and has fond memories.
“No, that moment it (European final) was not in my plans. I came here (at) 14 to Kells, I enjoyed my summer, it’s always great to come to Dublin since then, since my Liverpool years,” he said.
“Since then I have had the connection with Ireland that's strong, it's great to be here, the stadium is fantastic and our fans will enjoy the whole day, the pre-match, and it will be a great match.
“We respect Atalanta but I have confidence in us, we have a confidence that we can make it.
“The energy is good, the confidence is good, putting it all together we have reached this moment and now we have to use this week to live our best and enjoy it,” he added.
“We were very close to making the final last year, we harnessed that disappointment to fight for even more to achieve success and take the next step.
“If you make it to the final you don't simply go to make up the numbers, you go to win it, it's a one-off game and we will try and produce one last effort for this season, the team are ready to do so, the team go in with the right mindset that has brought us a lot of success so far.”
Bayer will have the backing of 12,000 supporters in Dublin for the game.
