Xabi Alonso, the manager of Bayer Leverkusen, has highlighted the threat posed by German third-tier team Arminia Bielefeld due to their impressive record against Bundesliga teams in the German Cup ahead of their semi-final clash on Tuesday.
Bielefeld has already eliminated Union Berlin, SC Freiburg, and Werder Bremen on their path to the final four.
“We must show respect for Arminia; they’ve proven their capabilities by defeating three teams from the Bundesliga. We’re gearing up for a challenging match and need to give it our all, as this is a do-or-die situation,” Alonso stated during a press conference on Monday.
“The DFB-Pokal holds a special significance. It creates its own narratives. Arminia has performed admirably and has earned their place in the semis.”
As the current holders of the German Cup, Leverkusen is on a two-game winning streak following a recovery from their Champions League exit and a recent defeat to Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.
They sit second in the league table, trailing Bayern Munich by six points with nine matches still to play.
“Arminia plays with exceptional energy and exhibits bravery in their attacking play. They are very dynamic when moving forward. Given that it’s the semi-finals, we anticipate an electric atmosphere in Bielefeld, and we will need to give our utmost,” Alonso added.
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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