The competitive season for VfB doesn’t start as usual with the first round of the cup, but with the Supercup against double-winners Leverkusen. Before the clash between the champions and runners-up, we spoke with Bayer expert Sebastian Bergmann from the Rheinische Post.
With the Red Stripe: Hello Sebastian, and thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. The first competitive match of the new season is the duel between the double-winners and the runners-up. You’ve been following Leverkusen for a while now. What has changed at the club since the first championship?
Sebastian: Fan interest has significantly increased. During the training camp in Donaueschingen, there were up to 800 spectators daily. This is a completely new dimension for Bayer. But you can also see it in the number of club members, the demand for tickets and jerseys, and many other aspects surrounding Bayer 04—it’s clear that the club has reached a new level in this regard. Additionally, many players have now seen that it’s possible to win titles with Leverkusen. Bayer will benefit from this for many years to come.
There was a lot of discussion beforehand about the location of the game and the timing of the Supercup coinciding with the first round of the cup. How do you assess the situation, and what importance do you place on the game?
Regardless of the previous arrangements or rules, I think it’s only logical that if there is a double-winner, they should have the right to host the Supercup in their own stadium. This will be the fourth competitive match in a row for Leverkusen, where there will be a trophy presentation after the final whistle—a very curious situation. The club, players, and of course, coach Xabi Alonso are taking the match very seriously and want to bring the next title to Leverkusen. Moreover, the match should give some early indications of how the seasons for both teams might develop.
What are your insights from the pre-season preparations? Will Xabi Alonso change his team’s style of play compared to last season?
I don’t think he will deviate from his fundamental idea of how he wants his team to play football. However, there will naturally be some small adjustments. For example, summer signing Aleix Garcia is someone who likes to play long balls, bringing a new element into the game. The team appears focused, but the friendly matches have also shown that Bayer is not yet at the high level of last season.
So far, Bayer has signed only three players: left-winger Martin Terrier and center-back Jeanuël Belocian from Stade Rennes, and midfielder Aleix García from FC Girona. Josip Stanišić returned to Bayern. Is the squad complete, or do you expect more changes by the end of August?
I don’t expect any major changes on the incoming side. If Jonathan Tah does end up moving to Bayern, Bayer will certainly look to bring in another defender—Joel Matip is a hot candidate. On the departure side, there could be some movement. Besides Tah, Piero Hincapié and Odilon Kossounou from Bayer’s championship defense are in demand. It’s clear that Leverkusen will only let one defender go this summer, and that too for a high fee. Adam Hložek and Gustavo Puerta are potential candidates for a transfer—and possibly Patrik Schick as well.
VfB signed a large number of players and spent even more money overall than Bayer. Does this mean that Leverkusen feels well-equipped for the Champions League with their championship squad?
Absolutely. So far, aside from Stanišić, who only really took off in the second half of the season, no player crucial to the double victory has left the team. Additionally, the three new signings have made a promising impression so far.
What are the expectations in Leverkusen for this season, and what do you think the team is capable of achieving?
Publicly, Leverkusen is keeping a low profile, stating that they aim for a top-four finish in the league and want to perform well in the Champions League. However, last season Bayer showed what is possible with this squad, setting the bar high. Even though it’s unlikely that the team will have another near-perfect season, I believe they are capable of anything—even winning the championship.
Finally, your prediction for the Supercup?
Opportunities to win titles don’t come around every day, and Leverkusen wants to make a statement right from the start, especially in their own stadium. I predict a narrow 2–1 victory.
Notice: This interview has been translated from German with ChatGPT.
Picture: © Leon Kuegeler/Getty Images