After Amine Adli had shot the allegedly final 3-1 for Bayer 04 Leverkusen in the 87th minute, Piero Hincapié did not appear with the other players for the joint jubilation ceremony. Instead, he lay on the lawn along the lawn as if he made himself comfortable in his bed. Hincapié stretched out his legs and lifted it into the air to drive away the cramp that had tortured it in the past few minutes. So he used the break until the restart to get through the last minutes of the game.
In the 3-1 success of the German champion against the much more than matters of the table, VfL Bochum, no lessons were shown in footballing high culture, but the 30 210 spectators in the Bayarena saw an entertaining Bundesliga game at all times, which always remained exciting until the substitute of the substitute Adli. And a bit of heroic history was also written at least from the perspective of the local audience – the Ecuadorian defender Hincapie and the Argentine midfielder Exequiel Palacios each received imaginary bravery medals in gold. “You don’t cry around,” emphasized sports director Simon Rolfes in his eulogy, among other things. However, it was less about hard masculinity than constant service and operational readiness. The two are “role models”, said Rolfes.
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Hincapie had played a game in the South American World Cup qualification with Ecuadors national team in Santiago de Chile at one o’clock in the night of Wednesday (German time), while Palacios made his contribution to the 4: 1 triumph of Argentina against Brazil at the same hour. At some point on Thursday, the two were back in the Rhineland after their world tours and appeared more or less shadowy on the club grounds. They did not take part in the final training, as captain Lukas Hradecky impressed: “But they are so professional, that’s not a problem.”
One problem was the two for VfL, the Bayer Latinos contributed significant to realize Xabi Alonso’s declaration of war on FC Bayern. Hincapié, 23, delivered a usual combative and usual first-class performance, including the pass on Victor Boniface before his knee hit to 2: 1 (60th minute). The long routes up to the baseline – no effort that evening, the Hincapié Mied. Palacios, 26, even earned two goals: Before the 1-0 through Aleix Garcia (20th) he only needed to play the ball across, but at Adlis Faußweg to 3: 1 (87th) was asked. The pass came precisely – not a matter of course at the end of a strenuous game in which the relegation candidate VfL had seriously challenged the favorite.
Palacios and Hincapié apparently have the gift of regenerating when traveling
Since the overload of the professionals is now always (and rightly), players like Palacios and Hincapié are all the more valuable and important for an internationally committed club like Bayer 04. Two professionals who apparently have the gift of regenerating adequately on the journey through the time zones and leaving no doubt about their dedication. Question to Xabi Alonso on Friday evening: Why could the two put a top game after the hardships of their South American tour? “Because they are top players,” replied the coach and was happy to seek his own quick-wittedness before recessing the appreciation: “You have this heart and this will. They love to play for their national teams, but they are also proud to play for Bayer.”
They have long since become native to Leverkusen, Palacios has been part of the club for five and a half years, Hincapié for three and a half years. In order to recently promoted the still young and development -capable Ecuadorians, half the Premier League and the better addresses of the Primera Division – the contract for the contract extension until 2029 was given to Bayer 04. In the effort to win the coach in Leverkusen at least another year, the guarantee for further cooperation with top professionals is like Hincapié And Palacios no to be underestimated. There are no news in the coaching question, said Rolfes, explaining, referring to the contract, which is valid until 2026, that there is no reason: “We do the planning for the next season, nothing has changed.” However, if Carlos Ancelotti Real Madrid Adios, Arrivededeci or maybe also ADIEU say, the situation may look different, Rolfes knows of course.
Before the day comes on which Xabi Alonso with Bayer is binding about his commitment in the next season, the coach would like to concentrate on the ongoing season and the little chance to defend the title. Maximum pressure on the leading Bavarians is the goal. “We have the class to win everything,” said Alonso about the seven-game residual program. There is no doubt that he also thought of the Friday evening heroes Hincapié and Palacios.