How Xabi Alonso’s Tactical Gamble Paid Off

Nathan Tella’s journey at Bayer Leverkusen has been anything but predictable. Initially signed from Southampton for £20 million, the Nigerian-born forward was primarily seen as a right-winger, occasionally filling in at right-wing-back. However, under Xabi Alonso, unpredictability has become a theme.

In Leverkusen’s high-stakes DFB Pokal clash against Bayern Munich, Alonso made a bold call—deploying Tella as a striker. Even Amine Adli, his teammate, admitted to being surprised.

“The coach always has a special tactic in certain games,” Adli revealed in an interview with Kicker. “Not playing for three and a half months and then getting substituted in such a game against Bayern, that says a lot.”

The decision raised eyebrows, but it proved to be a masterstroke. Tella rose to the occasion—literally—scoring a towering header that sent Bayern crashing out of the German cup. It was a moment that cemented Alonso’s reputation as a tactical genius.

“Sometimes he has ideas that we couldn’t explain,” Adli admitted. “We know what the coach thinks. He needs special players to implement his tactics—running and pressing monsters like Tella and myself against the Bavarians.”

While some decisions may seem puzzling at first, Leverkusen’s unbeaten domestic double last season is proof that Alonso’s methods work.

Tella has now tallied three goals and three assists in 30 appearances this season, just three goals away from matching his goal contribution from the previous campaign. With Alonso at the helm, who knows what position he might play next?