Leverkusen start brand-new period with wind in their sails– DW– 08/20/2024

In the passing away mins of the Supercup in between Bundesliga and German Cup champs Bayer Leverkusen and Stuttgart, the Swabians had the top hand.

Stuttgart, that had actually shocked everybody with their second-place surface in the Bundesliga last period, were up 2-1. Then, as in many suits last period, the Werkself conserved themselves with yet one more final objective.

Patrik Schick was the hero, transforming on a pass from Alejandro Grimaldo to also the rating prior to the last whistle. Leverkusen took place to win the occurring charge shootout 4-3 to catch their initial flatware of the brand-new period.

‘Comeback top quality’ stays

“It’s a clear signal to the other teams that we want to be there again (this season),” claimed Leverkusen goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky later on.

“”I’m happy that we obviously have not neglected these late returns and really did not leave them resting on the coastline someplace,” Hradecky added. “It’s still there.”

In the 2023-24 period, the dual victors racked up an overall of 18 objectives in the 90th min or later on in video games in all competitors. No group in any one of the leading 5 European organizations was much more effective in the passing away mins of suits. Head trainer Xavi Alonso’s side additionally came to be the first string to go unbeaten in a whole Bundesliga period.

The club additionally established brand-new documents off the pitch. In the 2022-23 period, Leverkusen had regarding 34,000 participants. Two years later on, this number has actually increased to 62,000. Fan product sales have actually reached brand-new measurements, with sales of the brand-new home jackets currently at 4 times what they were for the whole 2023-24 project.

The Werkself additionally racked up factors on social media sites, boosting their variety of fans by 65%.

“Of course, that’s something I couldn’t have imagined six years ago when I started,” Bayer Leverkusen’s handling supervisor, Fernando Carro, informed the Cologne City Advertiser papers.

“We’ve also done a good job there in recent years, and the sporting success obviously gives us a huge tailwind.”

‘Neverkusen’ no more

Interest in the club, frequently ridiculed as “Neverkusen,” has actually raised considerably– and not simply in your home.

“I observed this when I went on holiday,” trainer Alonso claimed.

“Everyone knew Bayer Leverkusen. I was in the Seychelles and everyone knew about the season and what had happened.”

Oliver Kahn: ‘Bayern intends to strike back’

Having won their initial organization title, Bayer Leverkusen get in the brand-new Bundesliga period with the wind in their sails. Whether they can duplicate their tasks of one year ago stays to be seen.

Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have actually generated a great deal of top quality on the transfer market and will certainly be intending to make it as hard as feasible for Leverkusen to safeguard their title.

“Bayern will do everything they can to become champions again,” Oliver Kahn, the club’s previous goalkeeper and chief executive officer, informed football publication Kickers.

“Bayern Munich wants to strike back in the upcoming season.”

However, Leverkusen additionally get in the period as one of the faves due to the fact that, aside from Josip Stanisic, that has actually gone back to Bayern Munich after his car loan spell finished, the champs have actually not shed any type of vital gamers to day– although Jonathan Tah’s condition stays up in the air.

Coach Alonso still has principals like Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Hradecky and Robert Andrich at his disposal, and brand-new finalizings like Aleix Garcia from Girona and Martin Terrier and Jeanuel Belocian from Stade Rennes assure to reinforce the team. Goal markers Victor Boniface and Schick– both of whom had actually been hindered by injury troubles– are completely healthy once more and prepared to trigger significant migraines for resistance protectors.

Bayer Leverkusen with a ‘little benefit’

The adrenaline is back after the Supercup win, claimed Bayer Leverkusen showing off supervisor Simon Rolfes.

“It was important to feel that energy again. It gives us momentum for the next games,” the previous gamer claimed.

While no one is anticipating Leverkusen to go unbeaten in the 34 video games of the 2024-25 Bundesliga period, the experts still see them as title competitors once more.

“Just like last year, Bayer have a small advantage over the competition,” claimed previous Bayern and Germany gamer Lothar Matth äus.

“But the new season won’t be a walk in the park.”

This post was initially released in German.