Never say never: Rudraneil Sengupta on the changing fortunes of FC Bayer Leverkusen

The club had so many last-minute collapses, they earned the nickname Never-kusen. Coach Xabi Alonso is using hidden talent, ‘clockwork’ precision to change that

Away from the buzz of the big three European leagues of England, Spain and Italy, a dramatic revolution is underway. A team led by a man seemingly destined to be one of the greatest coaches of this era is stitching together an “invincible” season of its own.

The team is Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen, who have finished runners-up in the Bundesliga a record five times but have never won it, and who, one season in 2002, managed to lose the Champions