Xabi Alonso promised Bundesliga champion Bayer Leverkusen will put as much pressure as possible if they can on leaders Bayern Munich to keep their title hopes alive.
With eight games left, Alonso's side, inner domestic double winners last season, in second place in the table are 56 points, six behind Bayern.
This is the second best Bundesliga campaign from Leverkusen, which has collected 70 points at this stage in the past term.
However, since three points were introduced for a victory, only Stuttgart once destroyed such a shortage in a season in 2006-07 (after MD26) to win the title.
The chances of Leverkusen to claim the Bundesliga title for a second consecutive campaign are assessed at only 5.8% by the OPTA -SUPERCOMPUTER, and they will probably end the season second (93.9%).
Alonso still firmly believes that Leverkusen gets the chance to keep their crown, starting their match against Bochum on Friday, where Bayern only plays on Saturday.
“This is super important to us,” Alonso told a press conference on Thursday.
“It is clear what we have to do and that is to fight until the end and the first chance that we will have to reduce Bayern's lead to three points is, is [on Friday]. ”
“We want to put as much pressure as possible. If we win and get the three points, then it is a better situation for us.
“That is the wish and the idea that we should have in the game.”
On Tuesday, Leverkusen faces the third class Club Arminia Bielefeld in their DFB-Pokal Semi-Final draw.
“It is almost April and I said that if we are in a position in April, it is time to fight for this opportunity,” said Alonso.
“It will not be easy, but the will and desire are there.”
In recent weeks there have been rumors that Alonso could be set to leave Leverkusen to take over in his former club, Real Madrid, with speculation about the future of Carlo Ancelotti Wervelde.
Alonso spent five seasons in the Santiago Bernabeu as a player, but he wiped the idea that he could return as their coach, with Ancelotti connected to Brazil.
“There was nothing to decide; it was a good break that we needed,” he said when he was asked about his future.
“The first week was to rest, and the second week was to concentrate on the next games. I said our focus, mine and all the focus of the players is on what we have.
“We don't have to think too much about the future. We take the one game at the same time.
“Individual, that is also my interest, and the interest of the players is the same. I am focused on this season and nothing else.”
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