Bayer Leverkusen 2023 with ambitious goals – “Achieve transfer earnings”

Despite Bayer’s 12th place

Club boss Fernando Carro is going into the new year with ambitious goals despite Bayer Leverkusen’s false start to the season. “We want to stay in the top four in the Bundesliga. That is our claim. And that hasn’t changed. He won’t change either if we miss our goals this season. That means: We have a big task ahead of us in 2023,” said the CEO.Cologne City Gazette“. You will fight to qualify for the European Cup.

The “Werkself” have scored 18 points from 15 games this season so far and stayed in twelfth place – they last scored the same number of points at the same time in a 2018/19 season, when they finished fourth. In terms of the annual standings, Bayer 04 missed their target in 2022 and finished sixth. In terms of squad value, however, Leverkusen are still in the top four in the German Oberhaus (to the statistics).

Despite the currently poor place in the table, Carro excludes large investments with a negative transfer balance in the next change periods: “In 2023 we have to achieve transfer income again. Especially depending on whether we play internationally or not. ”The last time there was a plus was in 2020/21 – mainly through the sale of homegrown player Kai Havertz to Chelsea for 80 million euros (in addition to all transfers from Bayer Leverkusen).

Bayer Leverkusen: Wirtz & Schick with central roles – hopes in Xabi Alonso

According to the 58-year-old, Florian Wirtz and Patrik Schick play a central role in personnel planning. Both with midfielder Wirtz, who is due to make his Bundesliga comeback in January after recovering from a cruciate ligament rupture, and with the recently hapless striker Schick, the contracts were extended in 2022 until 2027. With market values ​​of 70 million and 38 million euros, respectively, the two are the three most valuable professionals in the squad.

Carro puts a lot of hope in the work of coach Xabi Alonso. At the beginning of October, the Spaniard succeeded Gerardo Seoane, who was released after just one win in eight league games, and led the team to three wins in a row before the winter break. “Xabi Alonso has a very clear idea of ​​what he expects from his players: extreme professionalism, respect and discipline. He’s a role model but still approachable, he knows how team building works and how to relate to the players.”

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