Thursday, October 28, 2021
DFB knockout after mega blackout
Leverkusen suffers after a cruel week
What a terrible week it was for Bayer Leverkusen. First the Werkself go down in the Bundesliga against FC Bayern with 1: 5 and then there is an embarrassment in the DFB Cup against second division Karlsruher SC. One man is primarily responsible for the bankruptcy.
The sting is deep, the first crisis has arrived, and Lukas Hradecky didn’t want to gloss over anything at first. The Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper let his mood run wild. “It’s a big blow for me personally if you make such a mistake. But I’m only human. Shit defeat!” Said the Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper after his big buck, which again led to an embarrassing and early trophy – Out against a courageous second division club Karlsruher SC and ended the dreaming of the title for the time being.
It’s over in the DFB-Pokal, the next setback could loom in the championship on Saturday, and the next round in the Europa League is far from being secured. The ambitious Bayer boss Fernando Carro announced before the start of the season that he was convinced that he was facing a successful season. In other words: the first title after almost 30 years is due. But despite large investments, good framework conditions and a number of highly talented players, the so-called Werkself are apparently not in a position to tap their great potential continuously and at a high level and convert them into victories this season.
“Difficult to work with”
“That is of course disappointing and difficult to deal with,” admitted international Jonathan Tah after the 2-1 draw against the second division eighth. The fact that the winning goal for KSC by Kyoung-Rok Choi (63rd minute) came after a completely unnecessary bad pass from Hradecky underscores the problem. Failed at the back, forgiven everything at the front.
Leverkusen had 19 shots on goal, at the derby in Cologne (2: 2) it was 17 – most of them remained unused. “We lacked efficiency, speed and passing game,” said the new coach Gerardo Seoane, who is just getting to know the other face of his team. The Swiss moderates this situation objectively and soberly, but he has to ask himself why such a highly talented team cannot win such games.
It’s stuck in the tip
Of course, the personal situation is tense due to injuries, there was no real center forward in the squad. Iker Bravo, who was only 16 years old, was the youngest player in the club’s history to make his first short appearance with the professionals. The personnel situation is not getting better: Against VfL Wolfsburg, who comes with highly motivated new coach Florian Kohfeldt, another offensive player is missing in the yellow-banned Moussa Diaby on Saturday. After four consecutive games without a win, Bayer cannot afford another defeat, and even parts of the Leverkusen audience followed the performance on Wednesday with a whistling concert.
“Everyone has to give more for the team,” demanded Tah before the next league game. “It’s going to be a hugely important game for our confidence and that we don’t have to talk about falling into a hole again,” said the 25-year-old.