The coach surprised many by choosing to remain with the Bundesliga side despite being linked with moves to both Liverpool and Bayern Munich and thinks that he still has a lot to achieve at a club that he has guided to the precipice of a first-ever league title.

Alonso told TNT Sports: "There were many reasons [for deciding to start at the club].

"After one year, we're building a team, we're building a great spirit here.

"There were many reasons and so many players. The season has been great so far, and for sure we want to keep having this thing together.

"I felt part of it. After one year, it didn't feel like the right timing, and that's why I'm committed."

Leverkusen will take on West Ham in the first leg of their Europa League quarter-final tie on Thursday (11.04.24) and Alonso thinks his team's fighting spirit has been key in a remarkable season in which they are still yet to lose a match.

The former Spain international said: "We know that we are beatable, but we fight not to be beaten. For sure, the team has shown a great character.

"In tough situations, we have been able to deal with tough moments to win football games and with a great mentality to believe that we could make it to the last minute.

"It wasn't easy, but it's down to our football, to our ideas, to our style to not put long balls in difficult situations, in an emergency, that we lose control.

"We want to understand why we do things, why do things happen. They do understand, the players.

"It's down to the players to decide what happens on the pitch, [we] try to help them to make the right ones."