Europa League: Xabi Alonso hails Nathan Tella’s impact in Leverkusen win at Molde

By Wale Mustapha

Head coach of Bayer Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso is full of praises for Nathan Tella for his spirited performance and goal in their 2-1 UEFA Europa League win at Molde on Thursday.

Tella joined Leverkusen from Southampton in the summer and has since been having a sparing moments with his new club.

Before the Thursday match in Norway, the eligible Nigerian forward has played three games for the German side, all as substitute and he was handed his first starting berth against Norwegian giants Molde at the Aker stadium.

He justified the Coach’s decision to start him as he scored the Die Werkself’s second goal, firing past Molde keeper following a through pass from Adam Hlozek, that was four minutes after Jeremie Frimpong’s early lead for the visitors.

The match eventually ended 2-1 with Leverkusen extending their unbeaten run in all competitions to 11 as Alonso used nice words to describe Nathan’s performance.

“The first half was good. Our three strikers did what I wanted,” Alonso said.

“The first goal for Nathan Tella, that was great. We prepared well. There was a moment when we played with the result, not with the game anymore. When you want to defend the result, it can happen like that.”

Tella is now in good position to be handed his first Bundesliga start on Sunday when Leverkusen will be taken on Cologne.