Schick’s mood will significantly affect Leverkusen’s ambitions. The second best scorer in the Bundesliga from the 2021/2022 season spent most of the fall recuperating after groin surgery. After that, he also suffered from a muscle problem with his calf, but by the end of the autumn, he flew in with tremendous enthusiasm and closed it with a hat-trick against Bochum. Before that, he scored twice in the Europa League and once in the German Cup.
“It is clear that Bayer currently has high hopes for Schick. He is in good shape,” Phillip Arens, a journalist from Bild daily, who closely follows the events surrounding Leverkusen, tells Sport.cz. “We have to realize that Patrik was injured for a long time, but on the other hand, he is a different person now. He even gives interviews in German, he laughs more. The operation was such a relief for him, even though he had other minor health problems. If he plays like he did at the end of autumn, he will score a lot more goals for Leverkusen,” said the German journalist.
“He is ready to play the full ninety minutes. He trained well during December, also completed everything in the last two weeks. He didn’t miss a single minute. He is ready,” said coach Xabi Alonso on Friday.
What about Adam Hložek? The 21-year-old native of Ivančice had a hard time getting into the lineup in the fall, he collected barks in the Bundesliga, although he started in it thirteen times, but played only 81 minutes in total and was enough to score against Darmstadt. He got more space in the cups, in which he scored five goals. In a way, it pays for its versatility and also for the fact that competitors have done well. He scored twice in a recent friendly against Venice.
“However, I think his position is improving. It’s true that he hasn’t started in the Bundesliga this season, but I’d say he won’t be waiting much longer. He is training well, I expect to see more of him,” Arens concluded. “He’s gaining confidence, he has a good shot, he can be a bigger competitor for Jonas Hofmann. A good opportunity is coming for him to start next to Florian Wirtz under the striker,” added the German journalist to his view.
Leverkusen will have to deal with the absence of important players who have already left for the Africa Cup in the coming weeks. It features offensive tackle Amine Adli (Morocco) and defenders Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso) and Odilon Kossounou (Côte d’Ivoire). The gunner Boniface is injured in this.
Matěj Kovář is extremely satisfied in Leverkusen. Patrik Schick has already given him a few goals in training Video: Sport.cz, FAČR
“On the one hand, it’s a shame for Bayer that these players are missing, on the other hand, it’s a chance for others. Coach Xabi Alonso reiterates that everyone in his team is important and everyone gets an opportunity. In addition, Leverkusen’s squad offers a lot of options, it is flexible, it can play with three stoppers or four defenders,” noted former Bayer striker Patrick Helmes for the Kicker magazine website.
Reinforcements are not coming yet. The current leader of the Bundesliga will miss Boniface due to a groin injury until the beginning of April. “Now he would be missing anyway because of the African Cup,” noted the club’s sporting director Simon Rolfes. “It’s unpleasant for us and for him, but that’s just the way it is. We didn’t have many injured in the fall, this can happen,” added the former Leverkusen midfielder.
He also points to Hložka. “He’s gotten better over the last few months,” Rolfes confirmed Arens’ words. The Czech representative can play from the wing, under the point, in the past he also appeared in the lineup as a striker, but more in the role of a “false nine”, i.e. a player who moved a lot lower, thus opening up space for the wings. However, Leverkusen now plays in a slightly different style. “Adam can play in this position (striker),” agreed Xabi Alonso.
So far, there is no indication that Leverkusen will arm themselves with a new attacking player during the winter. Rolfes admits that he is looking at the market, while ruling out an emergency solution. “We’re not under any pressure to bring anyone in. But if there is a good opportunity to get someone and it would be logical, then we can react,” said the coach.
“It’s open. If anyone else gets injured, the club should act immediately. But in addition to Patrik, Adam is available, who certainly represents an alternative to the attack. Anyway, I don’t think a pure striker will come. When Boniface recovers, there would be three, and that would be a bit much. We’ll see how Leverkusen starts, but he’s ready,” announced Arens.
2024-01-13 08:14:54
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