Featured Image Credit: Twitter/@CBSSportsGolazo
Topics: Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen, Champions League, Micah Richards, Club Brugge
Jack Kenmare
Topics: Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen, Champions League, Micah Richards, Club Brugge
Bayer Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso proved he's still got it with a silky first touch during their Champions League clash against Club Brugge. Micah Richards, on the other hand...
Former Liverpool midfielder Alonso was confirmed as Leverkusen's new head coach in early October following the dismissal of Gerardo Seoane – and he kick-started his managerial career with a 4-0 win over Schalke.
After an impressive start, however, the Spaniard has failed to register another win since.
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The Bundesliga outfit currently sit in the relegation zone after another disappointing defeat last weekend, but at least Alonso is still entertaining the masses pitchside.
On Tuesday night, during what turned into a forgettable 0-0 draw against Belgian outfit Club Brugge, the former Bayern man decided to spice things up with an impeccable first touch on the Bay Arena touchline.
Then, much to the delight of former teammate Jamie Carragher, who described Alonso as the pass master, CBS Sports decided to replay Alonso's touch in the studio.
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A mightily impressed Micah Richards soon got involved in proceedings by trying to pull off a similar first touch of his own. That, however, didn't go to plan.
You can see the hilarious footage below.
Belgium manager Roberto Martinez, a special guest in the CBS studio, was in stitches along alongside fellow pundit Jamie Carragher. They certainly have a good laugh, don't they.
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Leverkusen, meanwhile, finished third in Group B to seal a Europa League spot.
After finishing on five points, they came out on top against bottom of the group Atletico Madrid based on head-to-head results. Brugge finished second behind FC Porto.
It was a busy evening in the CBS studio. Amid all the fun and games, one of the greatest Premier League strikers, Thierry Henry, gave a fascinating insight into Liverpool forward Darwin Nunez.
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"I think he needs confidence, and the confidence that I’m talking about is when you are at a club and feel like you’re going to play week in and week out, you’re a bit more cold in front of goal," the Arsenal legend told CBS.
"Because he wants to please so much and do so much and he wants to wow the Liverpool fans, sometimes he rushes it. He gets the ball and he rushes it instead of controlling, going back on his right foot and finishing clean.
"I went through that. When you arrive as a big signing and just overdo it at times. Coming in after Sadio Mane, that’s not easy to do and you just overdo it instead of being calm, cool and finishing.
"He’s the type of guy where when he gets one then things will come. I don’t think he’s a finisher like Robbie Fowler, not a lot of people are finishers like Robbie Fowler in all fairness, but he has goals in him."
Thoughts on Alonso's touch?
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Let us know in the comments.