After an outstanding first half of the season, Bayer Leverkusen appeared to be Bayern’s number one challenger for a short time, but after the 2-0 draw against Young Boys Bern on Thursday, which meant they were eliminated in the second round of the Europa League, the Werkself are now threatening all of the season’s goals to miss.
Consolation after blunder: Jonathan Tah and keeper Niklas Lomb (r.).
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It happened as both coaches predicted before the game: Unlike the 3: 4 from Leverkusen view in the first leg a week ago, the second leg against Bern in the BayArena was not an open exchange, but a tactical game. With advantages for the Swiss: “You have to be honest: You have to say about the two games that they were better than us. They did very well, pressed well, but were also very compact,” praised Peter Bosz the game on “RTL Nitro” the young boys, who are indeed tactically very clever and serene.
The Dutchman was not happy with his own performance regardless of the strength of his opponent. “It wasn’t enough today, you have to honestly say that,” said Bosz, who missed the ultimate determination on the rare occasions his team had. In addition, Niklas Lomb made another mistake shortly after the break, who first caught a cross, but then dropped the ball and so involuntarily Jordan Siebatcheu put on the 1-0 for Bern. “It’s very difficult for us and for him, that’s the way it is,” stated Bosz. The regular reserve keeper Lomb had already conceded the goal in the 1-1 draw in Augsburg at the weekend. Lennart Grill, who signed on in the summer, had not been registered for the Europa League.
Rolfes and Völler support Bosz
Regardless of only one win from the last eight games, the cup at the fourth division Essen and now the early failure in the Europa League, Bosz does not have to fear for his job. Even before the game, sports director Simon Rolfes and Rudi Völler had backed him up. The Werkself’s sporting director referred to the outstanding first half of the season and the fact that just a few weeks ago, when Bayer had meanwhile even topped the Bundesliga, Bosz had received a lot of praise for his work from all sides.
After being eliminated in two competitions, the Rhinelander now only has the Bundesliga, in which the deficit on the targeted Champions League place is currently five points in fifth. “We have to be self-critical now, but we also have to stand together as a team. At the moment it’s not as easy as in the first half of the season, that’s not our claim. We have to come across passion, mentality and team spirit,” warned defender Jonathan Tah.
Bosz: “The determination is there”
Already on Sunday (6pm) Bayer is expecting SC Freiburg, who could move up to three points against Leverkusen with a win, a difficult task in the league for which Bosz demands full concentration: “It’s still difficult now, but off tomorrow we have to prepare for Freiburg and the Bundesliga. ”
The Dutchman is betting on a trend reversal and presents himself combative: “The doubts are not growing. The determination is there. We have to turn this now and that can only be done through hard work and as a team. And we will do that too.”
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