Bayer Leverkusen introduced Kasper Hjulmand as a trainer. The Dane sees his new task as a big challenge that he is concerned with with a very good feeling.
Solved and without tension, but full of zest for action: Kasper Hjulmand only needed a few moments to explain how he was happy about his new job. “I didn’t expect to sit here, but I’m very happy,” said Bayer Leverkusen’s new coach in his presentation of media representatives on Wednesday.
Just two days ago it became official that Bayer had chosen the former Danish national coach (2020 to 2024) as the successor to Erik Ten HAG previously released.
Debut on Friday against Frankfurt
Now it goes on in the blow. Hjulmand’s first big task is already pending on Friday: Eintracht Frankfurt, who started the season, welcomes Eintracht Frankfurt on match day 3 in the Bayarena (8:30 p.m.)
It was not foreseeable that it would work with the obligation of the desired candidate. Hjulmand had initiated a large national football project in his home country in recent months. At ten performance centers, the Danish association wants to specifically promote talented players.
Preferably as a trainer on the pitch
Hjulmand was the head of this project and would have worked on if the request from Leverkusen had not come. “There are also big partners from the economy. But he got green light and was very grateful for it.
“I am a soccer trainer with body and soul and love to stand on the pitch,” said Hjulmand. In order to pursue this passion again, only Bayer Leverkusen came into question, he emphasized and provided the reasons. “I have the feeling that I can be myself here. I don’t have to explain how I see football. I don’t have to explain how I want to work every day to bring my idea to the square, so how we win, how we play, how we lead.”
Rolfes: “Human values important”
The connection Hjulmand and Bayer Leverkusen has not been around since these days, Ismael Camenforte, the Spanish athletic coach, who worked in parallel in the youth work of Bayer and for the Danish national team under Hjulmand.
Sports director Simon Rolfes would have liked to present the desired candidate at the start of the season. It initially did not work because of the association project. Rolfes also justified that the choice fell on him with Hjulmand’s human abilities: “These are values that are important to us.”
Hjulmand: “Hopefully it will explode”
The chosen one first asked for patience and dared to take an optimistic look into the future. “It will be hard work, but the potential is great. We try to get it up. We don’t know when, but then hopefully it will suddenly explode.”
Only briefly the new man took a look back at his time at the 1st FSV Mainz 05. There he was released there ten years ago after 24 match days. “I don’t have to prove anything. I love them Bundesliga“She is fantastic,” he said. He also learned a lot as a national coach. That will now help him in his second task in Germany.
Our sources:
- Bayer Leverkusen press conference
- News agencies dpa and sid
