Bayer Leverkusen’s head coach, Xabi Alonso, has addressed the frustrated reaction of Nigerian striker Victor Boniface, who showed visible displeasure when he was substituted during Saturday night’s Bundesliga clash against Werder Bremen.
The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Boniface netting Leverkusen’s first goal, helping to secure the hard-fought point.
The 23-year-old, a key figure in Leverkusen’s attack this season, was replaced by Patrick Schick in the 70th minute.
His reaction made it clear he wanted to remain on the pitch, with the goal-scorer eager to contribute further to his team’s efforts.
Alonso, however, showed understanding towards Boniface’s frustration, downplaying the incident.
“Yes, but that’s normal, all players want to keep going. He did well, and scored a goal, but we needed a bit more energy,” Alonso said to Kicker, acknowledging Boniface’s determination to stay in the game.
Despite Boniface’s recent car accident, Alonso expressed confidence in the forward’s fitness and readiness for the match, explaining, “Boni trained well on Friday, so we decided that he would start.” He added, “He scored a goal. Hopefully, the car accident is no longer an issue, and we can talk about football.”
Boniface, who joined Leverkusen this season, has been an influential player, tallying eight goals and one assist in just 11 appearances across all competitions, solidifying his reputation in Germany’s top flight with Die Werkself.
