Quote from: MAAManda on Today at 02:24:44 AM

Quote from: Obari on July 16, 2025, 11:10:26 PM

Bayer Leverkusen without Xabi Alonso or their key players, where do we see them next season? There are more enchancing patterns that wouldn't be practiced with the club because the one man that understands the system of the club have departed for Real Madrid. Don't get it twisted, Bayer Leverkusen will contest for titles but they're no longer favorites to win most of these challenging titles, they're becoming weaker and this is absolutely not good for them. Leverkusen should stand their ground and ensure they're back on winning track because it's the only way to show they're ever ready for fierce tournament.

Bayer Leverkusen's fate in the Bundesliga next season will be determined by their performance in upcoming matches, which I mean the pre-season matches, there are 4 matches:

1. Bochum - Leverkusen
2. Fortuna Sittard - Leverkusen
3. Leverkusen - Pisa
4. Chelsea - Bayer Leverkusen

Let's just see how Leverkusen performs in those four matches. If they can get good results, then we can expect Leverkusen to perform well in the Bundesliga next season.

Why is everyone obsessed with pre-season wins? It is not the 90s anymore, teams build chemistry on tours like these. Leverkusen's whole identity has shifted. Alonso is gone, Wirtz is gone (good luck replacing 57 chances and 82 dribbles!), and now Ten Hag walks in with headlines: “Title or bust, but here is a bunch of U23s and maybe no Xhaka.”

Can Flekken push Hradecky out, or is the captain untouchable? If Boniface and Schick do not hit, does Tillman turn into a "goal-scoring 10" or just another lost-in-transition signing? And who covers when the CB depth is thinner than ever?

Bayern can steal captains until they are blue in the face, but Leverkusen still has Palacios, Tapsoba and a front line with actual stricker. Provided the Ajax spirit of Ten Hag appears (not the Man United one), this team can maintain top 3, particularly when the new kids can gel quickly. The pre-season is only the trailer, mate. The true drama begins when the Bundesliga becomes real, and then we will know whether the strategic pivot of Leverkusen is genius or self-destruction