Key Highlights
- Piero Hincapie reflects on his time with Bayer Leverkusen and looks forward to facing the club in a Champions League match.
- The Ecuadorian defender discusses how he built confidence at Leverkusen and the importance of hunger for titles at Arsenal.
- Hincapie highlights Xabi Alonso’s impact during the 2023/2024 season, emphasizing the mentality shift he brought to the team.
The Return: Piero Hincapie Reflects on Leverkusen and Arsenal’s Champions League Push
Piero Hincapie is back in familiar surroundings. The Arsenal defender was part of Bayer Leverkusen’s invincible Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double-winning team during the 2023/2024 season. Now on loan at his parent club, Hincapie is excited for the upcoming Champions League match against Leverkusen.
“I was happy,” Piero told BILD, “(I) sent some messages to the guys from Leverkusen.” For Hincapie, this return to his former team is more than just a game. It’s a special situation for him, but he remains focused on Arsenal’s goals.
Building Confidence at Leverkusen
Hincapie arrived in Leverkusen as a 19-year-old prospect and quickly rose through the ranks to become a regular starter. However, his journey wasn’t without challenges. “When I arrived in Leverkusen, I only spoke Spanish,” he shared. “Because of that, I was initially too shy to ask the physio for treatment.” Hincapie now laughs about it, seeing how much he has grown both as a player and a person.
Appetite for Titles at Arsenal
The No. 5 is keen on replicating his success with Leverkusen while wearing an Arsenal shirt. “Arsenal already have the most important thing: everyone here is incredibly hungry for titles,” he said. Hincapie believes that this hunger and the coaching staff’s plans are crucial to securing major titles, but acknowledges it will be a long road.
“The coaching staff’s plans are working out really well so far. It has to stay that way until the very last second, then we’ll have something to celebrate at the end of the season,” Hincapie added. The defender is confident in his club’s ability to win but emphasizes the need for luck and hard work.
Xabi Alonso’s Impact
Having been coached by both Mikel Arteta and Xabi Alonso, Hincapie has unique insights into their coaching styles. “Xabi changed the team’s mentality,” he said, referring to his former manager at Leverkusen during the double-winning season. “During that time, every single player truly wanted to win every game. Even when we were behind, we always believed we could win.”
Hincapie hopes to bring this same winning mentality to Arsenal under Mikel Arteta. “You can tell,” he said of their playing philosophies. “Their passion for winning is incredibly strong and translates into the intensity of every training session and conversation.” The defender believes that this shared passion is key to success.
And so, as Arsenal gears up for a challenging Champions League match against Leverkusen, Hincapie remains focused on his own journey. “I want to win every title,” he said. “But the road is still long, and you always need a bit of luck.” For now, he’s content with the journey.
