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Lucas Alario has been proving this season why his nickname in Bayer Leverkusen training ground is ‘Goalario’.
With already one more goal to his name in the first 12 games of this season than the seven he scored in all of 2019/20, the Argentine is enjoying one of his best seasons in the Bundesliga.
As a result, Leverkusen is riding a wave and, after beating home rivals 4-0 midweek, is heading into a clash at the top of the table this weekend with Bayern Munich looking down on the record champion and on track to lead through 2021.
bundesliga.com He caught up with the 28-year-old to discuss his and his club’s purple patch, and to find out how long he thinks it will last.
bundesliga.com: Lucas Alario, what is it like to be first in the table?
Lucas Alario: “Good, and we just want to continue on the same path that we’ve been on. With humility, hard work, and that’s it, we’ll try to keep going like this and keep going like this. That’s the hardest thing, but we will try and do it. But it’s a season. long. There is a lot of time left and we have to take it match by match. Of course, we all like to see ourselves at the top of the table, but as I just said, there is still more than half the season left. It’s a long season , and the next day could change everything. So we cannot relax or think too much, because everything can change. There are many teams separated by some points. So we have to keep working and our attention has to be the same as we had to get to here. We have to keep trying to bring to the field what we work during the week. “
bundesliga.com: What are your goals for the season?
Alario: “You always have the highest expectations. You always want to win as many games as you can, but there are always games that you can’t win. That’s normal, that’s football. So yeah, it’s nice, but we’re very relaxed because getting to this point is just part of the journey we’ve been on since the season started. “
Watch: Lucas Alario, the X factor of Leverkusen
bundesliga.com: What are the reasons for Leverkusen’s success?
Alario: “I think we are an aggressive team, we try to get the ball back as quickly as possible. Sometimes we achieve that and sometimes we don’t, depending on how the other team plays. And when we have the ball, we want to take care of it. We want to make as many passes as possible. between us, and then when attacking we want to be decisive and get something out of each attack. But the most important thing today is attitude: the team approaches all matches in the same way. We cannot change it, and we have to continue So “.
bundesliga.com: What do you do with your own form?
Alario: “At the beginning of this season I was getting a lot more games than in previous years. I’m just trying to take advantage of it and do everything I can for the team. Fortunately, things have gone my way and I’m trying to stay on that path, performing. at my best level and doing the best I can for the team. “
bundesliga.com: You didn’t always play regularly, what has changed?
Alario: “Obviously, I never stopped believing in myself and in my quality. I have always trained in the same way. There is, how can I say, no other reason. I have always trained in the same way, playing or playing. I am not playing, and when I have the opportunity I have tried to take advantage of everything I have done in training and show it on the field, and try to do the best I can. “
Lucas Alario has scored nine league goals twice in one season since joining Bayer Leverkusen from River Plate in September 2017. – Simon Hofmann / Bundesliga / Bundesliga Collection via Getty Images
bundesliga.com: In the summer you became stronger with the signing of Patrik Schick. How was it installed?
Alario: “Yes, good. We are a great group that all try the same thing. We all want the best for the team. Patrik arrived recently. I think he is a young player with a lot of talent, many strengths and he has already shown it in other teams. Even to His young age, he has played for some teams, and it shows what a good player he is. I am happy that he is here. Both he and I try to do our best. We ‘haven’t had a chance to play together yet, but I hope Let’s do it soon, and I’m sure we’ll enjoy it on the pitch. We haven’t played together yet, but that’s the coach’s decision on who plays at the top. Like I said before, I’m happy he’s with us because he’s a great player with a lot of quality “.
bundesliga.com: This weekend you have a clash at the top of the table with Bayern. Can you beat them?
Alario: “You have to play these games. We know their strength, the physical and technical quality that they have throughout the field. But we also have our game, and we have shown it against great teams. So we will try to do our thing. Better to win the game.”
bundesliga.com: And you face Robert Lewandowski …
Alario: “Yes, there are great players, but I think the year he has had, in addition to scoring so many goals, winning titles, today I think he is one of the most complete and best players in his position.”
bundesliga.com: Your own concern will be more about how to break through the Bayern defense …
Alario: “They are a great team, the best in the world at the moment and the champions of the Champions League. And they have shown it from the beginning to the end, doing great things. You really want to play these games because they are great games against greats. players, and when you’re up against great players you want to be on the field. At the end of the day it’s 11 versus 11, and we’ll fight to play our game and win.
bundesliga.com: You are not the only Argentine in the Bundesliga. What do you think of your compatriots who play in Germany?
Alario: “I think with Nico González, [Mateo] Klimowicz, they are playing at a great level. Especially Nico, who comes from the national youth teams. He has scored goals, has returned to the national team, has scored against Dortmund. He is showing all his potential and for me he is a great player with a lot of quality. It is very fast and I hope he and Klimowicz continue to grow in the best possible way as they are doing. “
