Alonso explains half-time substitutions of Mukiele and Belocian

Nordi Mukiele and Jeanuel Belocian both made their first Bundesliga starts for Bayer Leverkusen on Sunday – and both were taken off at half-time. Head coach Xabi Alonso explained why afterwards.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Bundesliga match on Sunday could hardly have started worse for Nordi Mukiele, who made his first start for the club, as the Frenchman scored an own goal after just 5 minutes.

The 26-year-old didn’t look good either when the visitors made it 2-2 from a corner kick, as he failed to get anywhere near Sebastiaan Bornauw, who scored relatively easily with his head from close range.

Mukiele was eventually taken off at the break, with Xabi Alonso insisting he wouldn’t read too much into that one disappointing performance.

“I made the decision to replace Nordi at halftime, but it’s not a problem for me going forward. It has no consequences,” Alonso said in a post-match interview.

Young Frenchman Jeanuel Belocian also made his first Bundesliga start for Leverkusen – and like Mukiele, was substituted after the first half.

“Jeanuel had a yellow card. I know there was a risk that he would be sent off quickly and then we could have a problem. That was the reason for the substitution,” Alonso explained.