Post-romantic encounters, Schick views Leverkusen less as a reigning champion.
Patrik Schick, the striker for Bayer Leverkusen, has expressed his concerns about the recent departures of key players, including Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, and Granit Xhaka. These departures mark a significant turning point for the club, as they embark on a rebuild focused on youth and long-term potential under new manager Erik ten Hag.
The club has already initiated this transition by bringing in several new players and targeting additional promising talents. Among the confirmed and reported transfer targets and acquisitions are:
- Abdoulaye Faye, a 20-year-old Senegalese prospect from BK Häcken, who has had a breakout season in the Swedish league. Faye is seen as a promising talent for the future and is part of the club's youth-focused rebuild.
- Axel Tape, a 17-year-old player who graduated from the Paris Saint-Germain academy, aligns with Leverkusen’s strategy to develop young players with potential.
- Several players returning from loan, such as Maximilian Bauer, Dion Beljo, Tim Breithaupt, Lasse Günther, and others, suggest internal reinforcement alongside external signings.
- Kyliane Dong from Troyes and Chrislain Matsima from Monaco (loan made permanent) have also been brought in to strengthen the squad.
- Omar El Hilali, a Moroccan right-back from Espanyol Barcelona, has been identified as a rising star to bolster the defense, likely in response to the loss of Jonathan Tah and Jeremie Frimpong.
These moves indicate Leverkusen’s strategy to immediately replace outgoing quality with players who can contribute now but also develop further to build a new strong core. Sporting director Simon Rolfes emphasized using the Wirtz transfer fee to build the next title-winning team, maintaining the ambition to stay in the Bundesliga’s top four and contest titles.
In addition to these signings, Ibrahim Maiga has joined the squad from Hertha BSC, and the club is hoping to sign a few more good players to strengthen their squad. Schick, the team's striker, has stated that it will be difficult to replace the quality that Florian Wirtz brought to the team, particularly as he considered Wirtz to be the most important player.
Schick intends to lead with confidence and his own experience, urging the remaining players to "show personality and step up" in the absence of key players. He believes that Granit Xhaka, who he considered the most important player for Bayer Leverkusen, was a leader for the team. Despite the departures, Schick has not expressed concerns about any other players aside from Wirtz and Xhaka.
The focus now is on the other players to perform, as the club cannot compete for the title in their current state. FC Liverpool, Bayern Munich, and AFC Sunderland are the destinations for the departing players. As Leverkusen continues to rebuild, the spotlight shifts to the young talents and returning players to prove their worth and help the club regain its former glory.
Leverkusen's strategy in the rebuilding process includes targeting young talents, as evidenced by the signing of Abdoulaye Faye and Axel Tape, who both have promising futures in football.
Schick, the team's striker, acknowledges the challenge of replacing the quality provided by key players like Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka, especially considering Wirtz's significant impact on the team.
