That's some decent work. Keep it up. 
Nice coup, hopefully he's a rock for you
Partey should be a great piece of business and help take you to the next level
Calm Before The Storm
It feels like an eternity since my last game. I finished in the bundesliga, and I start again in the bundesliga not as player but as manager. I can't wait for a testing season. It will be full of ups and downs but I think I'm ready to experience the highs and lows of this cut throat career.
We're going to be starting at Borussia Monchengladbach. A team I never enjoyed to play. Not the best in the league but certainly not the worst, they're a very hard team to break down and we have to be at our best.
They're set up with some strong and creative players, which is why it's imperative we are rigid in our shape, and don't make any mistakes in the tackle. Just one mistake could lead to us being opened up and slain by the pace of Patrick Hermann. If we stick to the plan we have set out, we can win this.
After this game, we go up against Bayer Leverkusen. A better side than BMG in my personal opinion. They have a strong case to build against us in any position they choose but although on paper they might be the better side, this does not come to bother us.
We still attack like any other game, flood the box, and track back on the counter. It will be hard, so we'll need every ounce of fitness gained from our fine efforts in pre-season.
Last but not least. The big boys. Or shall we say the "Big, small boys". Dortmund. Strengthened a lot in this transfer window, I do not know what to expect. Marco Reus has the potential to destroy any team in World football on his day. Just one costly free kick could finish us off.
Then there's Aubameyang. We all know the dangers he comes to posses. This is not going to be easy, and I know why we are the underdogs going into this one, but don't underestimate us. With a bit of luck, anything can happen.
We go into these first few games as a 4-1-2-3-0. One defensive midfielder, 2 central midfielders, 2 wingers, and an attacking midfielder acting as just that, but with the freedom to push forward when the opportunity arises.
I will send the team out with this formation in all three games no matter what happens. They must have time to blend with the set up.
Three hard games then, this is not going to be easy. I don't know whether to be excited, or nervous. I guess we'll find out in two weeks time.
Bye for now.
Xabi
August - Back In The Game
WURZBURG 1-1p LEIPZIG WERNER
BORUSSIA MONCHENGLADBACH 0-0 LEIPZIG N/A LEIPZIG 2-0 BAYER LEVERKUSEN WERNER, PARTEY
LEIPZIG 2-3 DORTMUND WERNER, SOKRATIS O/GWhat a mixed start! It's been a crazy first month here, it's had absolutely everything.
Disappointment, excitement, the absolute lot. We could've done better I will begin by saying. We definitely could've considering how well we played. We've been unlucky in the results.
Wurzburg certainly gave me something to think about having us pend back at 1-0 for most of the game, and it wasn't until I brought Werner on and pushed him up the field until we could get a goal in the 70th minute.
It was a superb little finish right into the bottom left corner but I certainly would have liked a more comfortable result at 90 minutes. Instead, we had to go through extra time and penalties to win. Keita buried the winner and sent us through to the next match after Demi spooned his spot kick off the bar and over.
How we didn't win this next one I'll never know. We gave Gladbach a footballing lesson for 90 minutes, we did everything but score. We hit the bar, the post, I don't remember them even registering a shot.
The closest we came was probably through Partey. A corner kick on the right side in from Keita was met by our new man and on the half volley it was creeping in to the bottom corner but the opposing keeper did extremely well to get down and make the save.
0-0 at full time, I was pleased with the performance. One point wasn't bad against a side like this.
Our third game of the month as you know had us up against Leverkusen. Our first game at the Zentralstadion. It was a great event and we showed the fans exactly why that was with a first half master class.
We were all over them right from the first whistle, gaining back possession from their kick off in the first few seconds. On 15 minutes, Keita came close with a shot from distance but was denied by the keeper.
This unfortunate miss was cancelled out 7 minutes later. We got ourselves a free kick on the half way line, and piled into the box. Laimer smashed it up to Augustine on the edge of the box. Augustine knocked the ball down to Partey with a header and what came next was spectacular. A pile driver on the volley right into the far top corner! Incredible stuff, this was just one of the reasons I bought him. Proving me right.
The second goal came exactly 20 minutes later. Some neat passing on the outside of the box was opening up gaps left right and centre, they couldn't handle it. Keita to Laimer, Laimer with the back heel...Werner...Goal. Superb, I have no words for such fantastic football. The cheekiest of chips I've ever seen. Right over the reach of the keeper.
The game ended, 2-0, but on a bad note. 5 bookings for Leverkusen and a red card for Wendell. Though it wasn't just their discipline in question. Laimer himself managed to get him sent off just 3 minutes before the next early bath was awarded.
Against Dortmund you expect to lose. Most teams do unless you're the best. But I wouldn't take this before the game. We were good, we were playing good football and we definitely had a chance here.
Unfortunately, dreams were beginning to shatter after Yarmolenko's screamer nearly took net for a ride to the moon. It was a blinder, I have to hand it to him!
We were back in the game right on half time though, a scrappy goal line clearance could only make it as far as the Kaiser on the penalty spot who struck it with venom. Although going wide it took a lucky deflection off of Sokratis and bounced into the back of the net. Game on.
Four minutes into the second half we were in jubilation and I couldn't believe what I was seeing. I wasn't happy with our performance up top so changed the game up and brought Werner on. He repaid that faith by doing what he does best. Playing off the shoulder of the last man and rounding the ball past the keeper for a wonderful finish. Torres-esque!
2-1, the game was coming to the final moments and up step Yarmolenko. Once again, what a player. A free kick from stupidly far out...He had no right, but he made no wrong. What. A. Hit. 2-2.
We thought it was over, it really wasn't. Both teams pushing for a last minute winner it was always going to end in tears for one team and for us that's exactly what happened. Scruffy clearances did us no favours, Pulisic and Aubameyang capitalized and brought home the 3 points for their side.
It's never over in football, I know this, but I should learn from my mistakes. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. A point snatched away from us in the cruelest of ways.
It was a great month overall, Like I said we played really well and performances were good. We were just extremely unlucky. Next month I'm confident we can put in some more good solid wins and solidify a place nearer the the top half of the table. That's the aim anyway.
Xabi.
Apart from maybe the penalties win id be happy with that start, definitely a solid base to build on
It wasn't ideal Griff but what matters is we won and are through to the next round. a draw a loss and a win isn't bad for a mid table side against the top clubs to begin with
Decent start, hopefully you can turn the big clubs over
The Mind Behind Leipzig
Hello and welcome to this first addition of "The Mind Behind Leipzig" Where we'll get an in depth look into the busy life of management that the one and only Xabi Alonso now leads.
Xabi is here for the first time today after a good start to life in Germany as a manager - Not a player - Xabi, how are you finding things so far?
It's been fantastic so far, the club has been so welcoming from the players to all staff involved. They've been really kind and helped me find my way around the club,
they've made things all the more easier to do what I need to do without extra hassle.
Can you tell me about your relationship with the players?
It's good so far, like I said everyones been so welcoming. Naby Keita was a star on my first day helping me a lot with who was who and what they're like. After the first few games we've all knitted together a little closer we've spoken a lot about our strengths and weakness' we were showing. Ultimately, they all gave 110% out there last month and if they continue to do that then our relationship will be perfect.
It sounds like they're very pleased to have you. Tell me, you had a considerably large transfer budget and you did dip in for a player. That player being Thomas Partey but he didn't exactly cost a fortune. Why didn't you sign anyone else?
Just a case of squad disruption. I didn't know the squad and they didn't know me. I didn't want to cause unrest by replacing anyone. Of course I bought Thomas because we do have one player who will need replacing at the end of the season and I wanted more versatility in midfield.
I want to give all these players a chance before I take action in the transfer window. They deserve that much.
Ok. You played for Bayern for about a year or so, is that beneficial to you in anyway managing in this league?
In some ways yes in some ways no. I guess I know the Bayern team and how they play, I know Carlo and how he like to play so that's beneficial when we play them. I know a little about the other teams but other than that no. Management is an entirely different ball game.
Last question Xabi, we all know of that famous night in 2005. Istanbul, AC Milan, 3-0 down. We all know what happens next. Even in the 2004 FA Cup it was near enough the same. You and the team brought the highest of honors back to the club you were playing for at the time - Liverpool - Can you bring those sort of nights to Leipzig?
I hope so. I mean I'd like to do it in such a fashion that is different to how we did it haha! We made it hard for ourselves but it was certainly special in the end. I want to build something big here, and I'll take any trophy we can get our hands on no matter how we win. One promise I can make to the fans is that there will be glory here in my time.
Thank you Xabi!
Thank you!
I Feel like I'm getting to know Xabi on a personal level and its good. kEEP IT UP
Does he fancy putting his boots on again and coming back to Anfield?
Maybe not the boots, maybe one day he'll whack on his best three piece suit and come back but who knows 
Not a bad start at all in fairness and a tidy little interview with Xabi to boot, not bad! Got to love a bit of Xabi fucking Alonso.
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