Few people believed in Leverkusen a year ago. Now the situation is diametrically different. Bookmakers understandably favor Bayern, for whom another failure in the fight for the title would be tantamount to disaster. But Alonso’s squad is targeting the defence. And unlike last year, he is not afraid to speak loudly about the golden dream.
“It’s not written anywhere that it can’t be done. We have seen Bayern win many times in a row. So why not us?” Winger Nathan Tella wondered aloud. “The last time nobody believed in us and we won. We can prove anything,” added the 25-year-old footballer.
Leverkusen was flooded with euphoria last season. The team lost only one game (by mistake, the final of the Europa League against Atalanta), dominated the league and the domestic cup. Plus, it kept the skeleton of the team together. Offensive star Florian Wirtz, who was on the list of dream reinforcements of almost all big European clubs, remained. The most noticeable loss is the return of visiting defender Josip Stanišič to his mother Bayern and then most likely the departure of Adam Hložek to Hoffenheim. Otherwise, the master did not weaken.
Coach Alonso, whom the Munich team dreamed of, also remained. The courtship failed, as did several other candidates. So Bayern hired Vincent Kompany. The Belgian paid for one of the best stoppers in the world during his active career. But the last time he coached the English Burnley, which he led to the Premier League, but was relegated with him last year. With just five wins from 38 competitive matches.
Is this really a coach for a world-class club?
“It surprised me. Kompany doesn’t have much experience. Tried it on multiple trainers but to no avail. So they took him, which I don’t think is great,” said the seasoned coach Louis van Gaal.
He is not the only doubter, the choice of Kompany left many fans confused. The Belgian must scatter them properly. And finally give forward Harry Kane the first team trophy of his career.
The new Bundesliga season will also be interesting for Czech fans, who will immediately have six irons in the fire. After leaving for Hoffenheim, Adam Hložek should see a bigger workload and finally unpack it to the full. His new employer is also asking about Martin Vitík from Sparta and Robin Hranáč from Pilsen.
Czechs in the current Bundesliga season Tomáš Čvančara (24 years old, forward, Mönchengladbach) Adam Hložek (22 years old, forward, Hoffenheim) David Jurásek (24 years old, defender, Hoffenheim) Pavel Kadeřábek (32 years old, defender, Hoffenheim) Matěj Kovář (24 years old, goalkeeper, Leverkusen)Patrik Schick (28 years old, striker, Leverkusen)
The German league will have a lot again. Given Leverkusen’s ambitions and Bayern’s hunger like never before in the past decade.
