FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Bundesliga - TSG 1899 Hoffenheim v Bayer Leverkusen - PreZero Arena, Hoffenheim, Germany - September 14, 2024 Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso before the match REUTERS/Heiko Becker/File Photo
(Reuters) - Bayer Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso was happy with the German champions' 4-0 win at Feyenoord in their Champions League campaign opener on Thursday, but said the victory did not come as easily as it looked.
Former Spain midfielder Alonso, who won the European top-flight title twice as a player with Liverpool and Real Madrid, said his players needed some time to get out of the early pressure from the hosts in his first Champions League match as a manager.
