Bayer professional wants to attack again
© Imago
Bayer Leverkusens Jonas Hofmann once again looked at his last season under the coach Xabi Alonso, who was now immigrated to Real Madrid, and wants to prove himself again under his successor Erik Ten HAG. “It is still the case that I am very, very happy to be changed at the time because I won two titles. I personally put the past season into a box and don’t want to get it out. It was very disappointing for me what happened there and how it went. That is not my claim,” said the 33-year-old offensive player in an interview with the “Cologne City Admacle”.
The veteran was one of the big losers at Bayer in 2024/25: in the Double season 2023/24 he came to just under 2,800 minutes and 20 goal participations, after which it was only 651 minutes and five scorer points. The all-rounder never spent so much time on the bench in his professional career. “I’ve been with it for a long time. It is okay that you have a hole, but of course you have left me a nice feeling that you get so little playing time over a whole season. But I would rather look into the future now,” said Hofmann.
The 23-fold German international nevertheless said some critical words to Alonso: “I expect a coach that if he noticed something, I expect it directly. I expect open and direct communication. For more than two weeks, a trainer should not wait for more than two weeks because I want to have the players in top constitution to raise the training level. Trainer expected a little more. “
The change of coach means a “new chance” for him, says Hofmann, who still has a contract with the Werkelfe until 2027 and does not think of a farewell. “I am a child of the Bundesliga. I fight myself again. It is still that I play at Bayer Leverkusen with one of the best clubs in Germany. I feel comfortable, but I would probably have dealt with a change under Xabi Alonso.”
From last season he learned to use the time with the family, “to get up mentally, you have to stay positive and not put your head in the sand. If a trainer has a problem with you, you shouldn’t miss the positive thing about our job”. Hofmann’s market value is estimated to be 2 million euros in a row – his top value was at the end of 2021 as Gladbach professional at EUR 16 million. In 2023, the Heidelberger native was switched from the foals to Leverkusen for 10 million euros. At Bayer 04, Hofmann is the oldest field player in the squad.