There is no end in sight to Bayer Leverkusen’s incredible streak. Antti Pohja sees that the team will have a lot of work to do in the future.
The football club Bayer Leverkusen continued its ecstatic union late on Thursday evening by advancing to the final match of the Europa League and increasing its incredible unbeaten streak.
Lukas Hradecky Leverkusen, represented at home against AS Roma, came from a 0–2 situation to a 2–2 result. The equalizing goal came in extra time, as is typical for Leverkusen.
The team has now gone 49 matches without defeat. None of the clubs in Europe’s five biggest football leagues has been able to match it.
In April, the club won its first Bundesliga championship in history.
Urheilu’s football expert Antti Pohja is impressed by Leverkusen’s attitude to play the whole season without losses. This will be decided in the final four games of its season.
– Coach Xabi Alonso with management they wanted to go make history. The championship has been won, but they want to play undefeated. It speaks of the coach’s uncompromising culture. You can win championships often, but such achievements only happen once, says Pohja.
“Really hard to stop”
The level of self-confidence of the team is indicated by the fact that Leverkusen has turned matches into draws or wins in the very last moments of the match numerous times this season. For example, it has scored 17 goals in the 90th minute or later.
Pohja says that the twists and turns at the end are possible not only because of the team’s good mental state, but also because of their game-like support.
– In those situations, the opponent’s risk levels are quite low and focuses on defending their own lead. Leverkusen succeeds in breaking the low block. In addition to that, they are able to attack very quickly. They have so many opportunities to choose different ways that it is really hard to stop them.
The contribution of the former top player Xabi Alonso as a coach cannot be avoided too much. He will continue at the club’s helm next season as well.
– He would have been in demand at even bigger clubs, but he wants to learn and study more in peace. Wants to follow his own path towards the absolute top, if he is not already there. He feels that his own and the club’s development is the most important. Isn’t there going to be a statue of him in the city soon?
Interesting brand
This season, Leverkusen has the chance to win as many as three championships. The Europa League final between Leverkusen and Atalanta will be played on May 22. Three days later, the final of the German Cup is ahead, where the team goes as a clear favorite against FC Kaiserslautern.
Also played the peak season Lukas Hradecky has not kept a goal in a single Europa League game. The 23-year-old has taken care of the fighting responsibility Matěj Kovářwhile Hradecky has played a big role in the Bundesliga.
Pohja believes that Hradecky will be seen in either final. Next season, the goals will rise when Leverkusen is participating in the Champions League.
With the Champions League in mind, Leverkusen has a positive problem: who will score?
– With these successes, they have put money in the bank. A younger official brother is able to take on more responsibility little by little. What will be the division of labor in the next season will become clear later.
Pohja reminds us that Leverkusen is now a club that is interested in several top players. Leverkusen can be even tougher in the future.
– They want to come to Alonso’s training. Either they are young players who want to blossom or they are experienced. In any case, Leverkusen’s brand is quite high among the players.