Xabi Alonso has played down Victor Boniface's visible frustration during Bayer Leverkusen's 4-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, insisting that the team's performance and result matter most.
The Super Eagles forward was involved in a heated on-field altercation with his teammate, Emiliano Buendía, in the closing stages of the match. In stoppage time, Bayer Leverkusen had a golden opportunity to net a fifth goal after a well-delivered cross into the box caught Eintracht Frankfurt’s defence off guard.
Buendía was first to react, but his initial effort lacked the proper connection. As he attempted a second strike, Boniface simultaneously went for the ball, resulting in a miscommunication that squandered the chance.
Frustrated by the missed opportunity, the Argentine lashed out at Boniface, but the Nigerian forward was quick to respond. The situation escalated into a heated exchange between the two, prompting their Leverkusen teammates to intervene and diffuse the tension.
Despite the heated exchange, Alonso remains unfazed, dismissing any cause for concern.
Alonso brushes off Boniface-Buendía clash, stresses team unity
Addressing the media after the match, the Spanish manager dismissed concerns over the on-field altercation between Boniface and Buendía, stating that the team's performance and result were the main priorities.
“He (Boniface) wanted to score a goal. It's not a problem. We'll talk about it. The most important thing is the team, the performance, and the result,” Alonso said in the aftermath of the game, as shared by Buli News.
Boniface entered the game as a second-half substitute, replacing his compatriot Nathan Tella in the 77th minute.
Unable to break his scoring drought against Frankfurt, the 24-year-old extended his goal drought, having last found the net in Die Werkself's 3-2 victory over Köln in the DFB-Pokal quarter-finals on February 5.
Boniface has made 19 appearances for the reigning German champions, starting 13 of those matches. During this time, he has scored nine goals, provided one assist, and averaged 57 minutes per game across all competitions.
