231 days after the last competitive game
Patrik Schick (27) initially didn’t seem to be in as good a mood as one would have expected after his redemptive comeback. On the one hand, the Czech’s mood was a bit dampened by the fact that he had been drawn for a doping test in the first game in almost eight months. On the other hand, Bayer 04 Leverkusen’s top scorer was unexpectedly affected by his first 30 minutes of action since the beginning of March.
All market value changes for Bayer 04 Leverkusen explained in detail
“It was hard. Now I know that I still have a long way to go and have to work hard,” said Schick after Bayer’s 5-1 win over Qarabag FK, the Bundesliga leaders’ third win in the third group game of the Europa League. “I know what it feels like to come back from injuries. That’s always hard. But I’ve never been out for so long,” said Schick, who has been training with the team again for a month and has now played in a competitive game for the first time in 231 days. “A game is something completely different than training. But it gets better every game. And I’m not in any pain, that makes me happy.” The loud reception from the fans when he came on in the 62nd minute “felt like a goal.”
For coach Xabi Alonso, the feeling of his number 14 is “totally normal after such a long injury. The first game is always the hardest.” Schick, who scored 24 goals in 27 Bundesliga games in the 2021/22 season, was a little dissatisfied because “of course he wanted to score a goal. But I’m very happy for him that he’s back.” As a result of the long injury – he missed nine competitive games between October 2022 and February 2023 – Schick has lost significantly in market value. In the summer of 2022 it was valued at 50 million euros, today at 25 million.
Sports director Simon Rolfes smiled when asked about Schick’s statements. “You just can’t simulate a game,” said Rolfes. After the striker’s long adductor problems, it will take a while before he is fully fit to play, no question about it. We still have to have a little patience. But he will always get his minutes.” And Schick will make progress, he is sure of that. “He has good fitness, even if he is exhausted now.” The Czech “has been looking forward to it for so long and worked so hard. That’s why this effort is definitely good for him. The soul and also the body.”
To home page