Bayer Leverkusen's former midfield star Emerson says the club's unbeaten season and a pending first Bundesliga title is all down to one man.
"It's no coincidence that people talk more about the coach than the players. They play good football. And that is the work of Xabi Alonso," the 48-year-old told Saturday's Süddeutsche Zeitung.
Leverkusen can wrap up the title this weekend.
"It's impossible for them to lose it. Impossible," added Brazilian Emerson, who moved to Leverkusen from Grêmio in 1997 and played 82 Bundesliga games for the club until 2000.
"The large number of last-minute victories was a clear indication to me weeks ago that Leverkusen could become champions. They know what they're doing. And they are taking advantage of a situation in which a financially strong and powerful club like Bayern are not playing a good season despite many good players."
Bayern have won the last 11 Bundesliga titles but are set to finish second or even third.
In Emerson's final game for Leverkusen in 2000, the team lost what they thought was a certain championship on matchday 34 with a 2-0 defeat at Unterhaching.
"I don't think we were mentally prepared for that moment. How can I put it? Our desire for the title was just too great - maybe that stopped us," Emerson said looking back.
"We lacked the willpower, even though we wanted to win. Winning a club's first league title is never easy. You first have to develop a winning mentality. Leverkusen have done that over the years."
Emerson moved to Roma after Leverkusen and won Serie A before playing for Juventus, Real Madrid (winning La Liga) and AC Milan. In 2009, the 73-times capped Brazil international ended his career at Pelé's club Santos.