The TRUTH Behind Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen ⚽️ Nathan Tella | Perspectives

Last season, Nathan Tella had the best year of his career at Bayer Leverkusen. Playing for Xabi Alonso, he was part of the first Bundesliga team to go an entire season without losing a game.

Leverkusen won their first ever Bundesliga title, ending Bayern’s 11 year winning streak. They made history, and Nathan played a big part in that. He’s had a great season, but his journey has been far from easy.

Nathan was released by Arsenal’s academy and left without a club at 18 years old. He suffered a near career-ending knee injury when he was just 19 years old.

But despite all the adversity he faced, he never gave up and managed to turn his career around. In this episode, Nathan talks about working with football legends like Vincent Kompany and Xabi Alonso.

He opens up about the reality of being a professional footballer, and gives us the behind the scenes on this incredible Leverkusen team. This is Nathan Tella, and this, is his story.

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Timestamps:

00:00 // Intro
01:52 // Where did it all begin?
02:24 //When did you realise you had talent?
03:08 // Where did you get scouted?
04:23 // What was your relationship with Ryan Stapleton like?
04:55 // Who is Ryan Stapleton?
05:41 // Who were your football idols growing up?
06:54 // Signing for Arsenal
08:07 // Arsenal Academy days
09:18 // Who did you look up to in the academy?
09:52 // Who was the toughest Academy you played against?
10:29 // Who was in your age group vs Chelsea Academy?
10:50 // Big battles against Chelsea
11:17 // Have you had to make sacrifices in your career?
12:45 // Meeting Theiry Henry
14:18 // "I let people walk all over me at that age" - What did you mean by this quote?
17:07 // How did you build your confidence?
18:05 // Dealing with pressure from a young age
19:01 // What is more rare - Physical strength or mental strength?
19:43 // Time at Arsenal
22:32 // Trial at Reading and dealing with rejection from Arsenal
27:20 // Getting signed by Southampton
28:05 // Have you got any mates who have also experienced tough trials?
28:57 // Do you have any advice for youngsters dealing with rejection?
29:37 // Are you glad your move happened that way?
30:30 // What happened after Southampton?
33:31 // Missing the chance to play first XI
35:10 // Falling out with the coach
37:38 // ACL Injury at 19
42:58 // Back playing U23's football
43:59 // After Covid playing first team Football
44:19 // Norwich game
44:59 // Debut
45:39 // 2 season's playing first XI for Southampton
46:56 // On Loan at Burnley
50:02 // Why did that season go so well for you?
51:39 // Winning the Championship
53:08 // How the moving to Bayern Leverkusen came about
53:52 // What was it like moving to Germany?
56:26 // What is Xabi Alonso like?
58:10 // What is the group like at Bayern Leverkusen?
01:00:30 // Do Kompany and Alonso have similar management styles?
01:01:24 // Where do you think this Bayern Leverkusen side would finish in the Premier League?
01:02:16 // How did you lose the Europa final after such a great season?
01:02:59 // What is the worst thing about being a professional footballer?
01:03:55 // What is some advice you'd give to your younger self?
01:05:01 // Going back to your grassroots
01:06:12 // What does the future hold for Nathan Tella?
01:07:23 // Outro