Bayer Leverkusen will have to do without two key players until the end of the season. Odilon Kossounou and Robert Andrich will be out for the rest of the season, the club announced the day after the semi-final first leg in the Europa League at AS Roma (0-1).
Andrich suffered a fracture in his left metatarsal, Kossounou a muscle injury in his right thigh. Both professionals have already returned to Germany.
Already on Friday morning, before the diagnosis was made, Bayer coach Xabi Alonso had told Andrich “a serious injury” afraid he was talking about “bad news“. His team will not leave Italy until Saturday for the Bundesliga game on Sunday (3.30 p.m.) at VfB Stuttgart, who are threatened with relegation.
Alonso announces rotation
“We still have time to decide which players to rotate“, said Alonso: “We’re in the semi-finals of the Europa League, but we also want to get back into the European league. We’ll have a good team.”
Immediately after Stuttgart, however, the focus will be on the second leg on Thursday. “We have to win. We will have the motivation to play a good game in a top mood“, said Alonso: “If you want to reach a final, you have to be ready for a comeback. We need that – and we have to give everything for it.“
Bayer needs “special night”
Former world and European champion Alonso even sees a small psychological advantage. “Sometimes it’s better if you know what to do and there’s no speculation. Roma feel like favorites now, but anything can happen in football“. But Alonso is also clear: “When we reach the final we need a special night.“
Leverkusen’s Odilon Kossounou is injured on the ground.
