Bayer Leverkusen’s star player Florian Wirtz could return earlier after his injury than accepted. The Werkself receives VfL Bochum to the west duel in its own stadium on Friday evening (8.30 p.m.).
Xabi Alonso didn’t want to speak that much about himself, although the day before the game against VfL Bochum, many of the questions in the regular media round of the trainer of Bayer Leverkusen and his professional future were directed.
There was nothing to make decisions during the international break, the Basque explained and made it clear to the questioners that “we shouldn’t think too far”. Alonso remained guilty of a faithfulness beyond the summer on Thursday.
Alonso wants to go a “a little bit of risk” at Wirtz
Instead, he preferred to come to the fore another personnel: that of his sample student Florian Wirtz. After his ankle injury, which he had contracted against Werder Bremen (0: 2) two and a half weeks in the game against Werder Bremen two and a half weeks ago, the international could return faster than expected.
“We want to go full throttle and a little risk. If he can play earlier, we take the risk,” said the Spaniard: “We can be optimistic that he can return earlier.” The medical department of the club initially assumed “several weeks” from a break.
Wirtz ‘good feeling in the joint
“I spoke to Flo, he feels better. His feeling in the ankle is good,” said Alonso, who did not yet want to set an appointment for the comeback. “We are still waiting a little.” He wanted to look from “week to week”.
Whether with or probably without Wirtz – the duel against the Bochum also used Alonso to say the title fight for league leaders Bayern Munich.
Increase pressure on Bayern
The game against VfL is therefore “super important”, now “the moment when everything can decide. We want to make as much pressure as possible,” emphasized Alonso: “We have to win almost everything. The next four games are the key to have a chance.”
The goal? Bayern should “feel that they are not up alone. We want to be a danger to them.” With a victory this Friday, the defending champion could, at least temporarily, shorten the deficit to three points.
