“Of course that hurts”
Bundesliga star doubts about their own team
07/31/2025 – 12:26 p.m.Reading time: 2 min.
After the departure of several top performers, Bayer striker Schick no longer sees the runner-up in the title race. Two prominent losses in particular weigh heavily.
After the last successful years, Patrik Schick sees an acute need for action at Bayer Leverkusen. The attacker demands clear reinforcements – and speaks openly about the loss of central actors.
“The most important players are gone, of course it hurts,” said Schick in an interview with the pay TV broadcaster Sky. After the runner-up title in the past Bundesliga season, several regular players left the club: Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong joined FC Liverpool, Jonathan Tah switched to Bayern Munich, Granit Xhaka to AFC Sunderland.
Schick emphasized that the “Werkself” no longer had the same punch due to the transfers. “We hope that we will get a few more good players,” said the 29-year-old. In the current line -up, he does not see Leverkusen in the title race: “At the moment we are not in the position where we can fight for the title.”
Florian Wirtz’s departure in particular hits the Czech international. “For me as a striker, Florian was the most important player. It is a big loss,” said Schick. “We cannot replace Florian with the quality he had.”
Farewell to Granit Xhaka weighs even more heavier for him. In his view, the Swiss is the “biggest loss”. Schick said: “I believe that granite has gone away for the whole team. He was a leader. He was the player with the greatest experience and simply very important for the team.”
In view of the changes, Schick now demands that other players get involved. The remaining actors and new additions should “show and come out. Now is the time for the other players,” he emphasized.
The attacker expressed a positive statement about newcomers Ibrahim Maza, who came from Hertha BSC. He thinks it is a “good player”. Schick himself wanted to take responsibility with his experience.