According to coach Gerardo Seoane, Bayer Leverkusen’s joy at the start of the Champions League is only slightly dampened despite the crisis in the Bundesliga.
“The anticipation is very great,” said Seoane the day before the first game on Wednesday (9 p.m.) at Belgian champions Club Brugge: “Of course you can’t just put aside and forget this difficult situation that we have in the championship,” he said.
“Nevertheless, we have positive hopes that this competition will release additional energy and motivation,” said the Werkself coach. Bayer have lost five out of six competitive games this season so far.
Seoane did not want to reveal whether winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, who was signed last week, will make his starting eleven debut in Belgium. “We’ll see if he starts, if he comes in or doesn’t play at all,” he said. “Of course I won’t give any indication of the line-up.”
The 21-year-old Hudson-Odoi was loaned out from Chelsea last week and made a promising debut as a joker in the league in the 2-3 draw against SC Freiburg on Saturday, including a goal assist.