Bayer Leverkusen has had a hard time against big opponents recently. In the Champions League against Manchester City, the Werkself can show how far they really are.
The formula for success for Bayer Leverkusen could hardly be simpler. Actually, the Rhinelanders only have to stop the goal machine Erling Haaland, then nothing should stand in the way of a coup at Manchester City.
Because: If Haaland doesn’t score, Pep Guardiola’s seemingly all-powerful stars will always lose this season. This has happened three times in the past three months. So much for the theory.
Manchester City’s Erling Haaland in action
“Taking a team’s key player out of the game is often not a bad recipe,” said sports director Simon Rolfes with a wink before the game in the Champions League on Tuesday (from 9 p.m. in the audio stream of the Sportschau) in Manchester about the star striker, who has already scored 19 competitive goals. “If we control it, it increases our chances of not getting goals.”
The Norwegian only failed to score in three games this season, and City lost each of them, most recently at Newcastle United at the weekend. Despite the dependence on Haaland, Leverkusen knows that it will need a little more.
Rolfes: “We have to appear more courageous”
Rolfes calls for the professionals from Bayer Leverkusen to be broad-minded against Manchester City’s star ensemble. “The learning from the last games against top opponents is that we have to be more courageous.”
The Rhinelanders had no chance against defending champions Paris Saint-Germain (2:7) and in the Bundesliga at FC Bayern (0:3). “You have to try to hurt them even against top teams,” said Rolfes before departing for England. Such games are “wonderful because sometimes you are pushed to your limits – and sometimes beyond them. But you continue to develop.”
Week of truth for Bayer 04
At Bayer they feel prepared for the first part of the top game treble. “These are great games,” enthused offensive player Malik Tillman before the start in Manchester. “Everyone lives for games like this.” First the title winner from 2023 awaits, then the double pack against Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga and the DFB Cup. Jonas Hofmann also emphasized that he had the feeling “that we are ready” a week ago, which will show how far the Werkself really are under their new coach Kasper Hjulmand.
After the win in Wolfsburg (3-1), coach Kasper Hjulmand can also rely on the recently injured Ibrahim Maza in Manchester. On the other hand, Jonas Hofmann, who impressed in the league but is not nominated for the premier class, will be missing. “Our squad will be a little smaller,” said Rolfes.
Our sources:
- Sports Information Service (SID)
- German Press Agency (dpa)
