analysis
The completely newly formed Bayer 04 Leverkusen team is characterized primarily by fluctuations in performance in the first few weeks of the season. An interim balance.
For the last one who was abused football-Soul at Bayer 04 Leverkusen The Bundesliga conclusion before the international break was a real blessing. The 6-0 win against 1.FC Heidenheim caused collective enthusiasm – and hope that the new team’s development would continue in the right direction.
“Now I hope that the players all come back healthy from their national teams so that we can continue with this pressing and this intensity after the break,” said Kasper Hjulmand. In late summer, the Danish coach of the Rhinelanders took on the difficult task of forming a new top team from the most recent champions and runners-up, whose squad had been completely overhauled.
vibrations in the early weeks
17 departures compared to 13 additions. A lot of talent, little experience currently characterizes the appearance of the Werkself. Compared to the 2023/24 championship season, the average age has fallen from 25.72 years to currently 24.13 years. This makes Leverkusen the third youngest team in the Bundesliga behind VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig.
The fact that such an enormous upheaval cannot take place without shocks, especially in the early weeks, is probably unavoidable. After ten match days in the Bundesliga, it is clear where the pitfalls for Bayer 04 (still) lie.
Not at eye level
Formerly influential players such as Granit Xhaka, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong have left a (quality) gap that becomes particularly noticeable when the opponents are in the top European category.
In the Champions League, for example, there was a disastrous 7-2 defeat against defending champions Paris St. Germain. At FC Bayern in the Bundesliga The Hjulmand team had to cope with an even flattering 0:3, in which the Werkself – unlike in previous years – had absolutely no chance.
“I don’t like it, I want to see a performance in every game regardless of the upheaval. I don’t want any excuses,” said Bayer managing director Fernando Carro, disillusioned after the defeat in Munich. “Of the 13 newcomers, eleven are in the Bundesliga for the first time. Surprisingly, annoyingly, they were too impressed. I don’t understand that.”
Minimize fluctuations
But opponents who Leverkusen were supposed to be superior to also made things difficult for the Hjulmand team in the early part of the season. There were unexpected loss of points against opponents like Mönchengladbach, Hoffenheim and Bremen in the Bundesliga. In the European competition against Eindhoven or Copenhagen, the Werkself did not get beyond points.
No critic should have any doubt that players like Malik Tillmann (23 years old), Jarell Quansah (22), Eliesse Ben Seghir (20), Ibrahim Maza (19), Ernest Poku (21), Christian Kofane (18) and Axel Tape (17) have a lot of potential.
It is now up to Coach Hjulmand to stabilize this potential at a sustainably high level of performance and to minimize fluctuations in performance. Coach and team are looking for a permanent, upper performance limit.
Mainly defensive problems
The differences to the championship season and the current season are particularly significant in one point. The number of times Leverkusen has possession of the ball in the Bundesliga is not particularly different (58 percent to 57 percent). And when it comes to effectiveness, there are only small differences.
The less dominant play than under coach Xabi Alonso only has a slightly negative effect on the goal rate. Under Alonso this was 2.62 goals per game throughout the season, currently it is 2.4 goals per game.
But the susceptibility to conceding goals has changed significantly. While under Alonso there were an average of 0.71 goals conceded for the Werkself throughout the season, the current average is 1.4 goals conceded – a doubling. Hjulmand has not yet been able to adequately replace a leading player like Jonathan Tah, who moved to FC Bayern.
Andrich seems overwhelmed
And those in charge at Leverksuen around sports director Simon Rolfes have not yet found a replacement for the former organizer and undisputed boss on the pitch in central midfield, Xhaka, who was also responsible for defensive stability.
National player Robert Andrich, for example, who has already been shown yellow-red (Bundesliga) and red (Champions League) once in this short season, seems to be overwhelmed by the role that was intended for him. The midfielders Exequiel Palacios and Aleix Garcia have not yet been able to discover this role for themselves.
Time for development
It is all the more understandable that Hjulmand wants to use the international break to continue working on consistency and coordination with the remaining Bayer professionals (nine players are on international travel). The team must continue to develop in order to be able to better cope with the upcoming tasks, especially against top-class opponents.
“We play against Dortmund on November 30th and against Leipzig at the end of December. I want to see the games,” said Carro.
