Bayer Leverkusen's Xabi Alonso has the chance to cement his reputation as a rising star in coaching during Wednesday's Europa League final.
According to details, standing in his way is the experienced Gian Piero Gasperini of Atalanta.Alonso, having turned down offers from his former clubs Liverpool and Bayern Munich, has stayed with Leverkusen after guiding them to their first-ever Bundesliga title with an unprecedented unbeaten season.
The German champions have gone 51 games without a loss across all competitions and are on the brink of a remarkable treble, facing second-tier Kaiserslautern in the German Cup final on Saturday.
Yet, the Europa League final in Dublin poses a tougher challenge against an Atalanta side also on the cusp of their greatest season.
The Bergamo club, traditionally overshadowed by nearby AC and Inter Milan, has thrived under Gasperini, securing a fourth Champions League qualification in five years.
Despite their success, they have not won a trophy in 61 years, losing three Coppa Italia finals recently, the latest to Juventus.
"This is the pinnacle of my career in terms of accomplishment and prestige," Gasperini said.
"Success isn’t always measured by trophies alone. Atalanta has far exceeded expectations, and winning a cup would be a huge satisfaction," he added.
Gasperini’s attacking philosophy and talent development have won Alonso's admiration. "He has a clear plan and has built a team with a strong mentality and high quality," Alonso remarked. "We’ll have a chance if we produce our best form."
Atalanta must deliver an extraordinary performance to disrupt Leverkusen's momentum. Unlike Gasperini’s modest playing career, Alonso enjoyed a glittering career with Liverpool, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich, winning the World Cup and multiple Champions League titles.
Reflecting on the potential of an unbeaten season, Alonso said, "It would be historic, written in golden letters, not just in our club's history but probably in all of European football. I hope we can achieve it."
