‘Imperfect’ Bayer Leverkusen are on the cusp of the Bundesliga title as Boniface returns

No team in Europe has the record that Bayer Leverkusen has this season. They are unbeaten in 38 matches in all competitions. They currently have the Bundesliga’s best unbeaten run ever and hope to win their first-ever title following a 10-point lead over defending champions Bayern Munich, reports Soccernet.ng.

Their recent run has made it one of the most exciting Bundesliga campaigns. Many people, including some Bayern fans, are, like Donald Trump once quipped, tired of winning.

Leverkusen’s play under coach Xabi Alonso is delightful to watch. They have grit and an easy-on-the-eye ability to conjure goals from every corner of their front three.

Bayer Leverkusen’s coach Xabi Alonso. Photo: Getty Images/Bundesliga International
Florian Wirtz is the youthful wizard coordinating the attack and has notched 10 assists and seven goals. Spaniard Alex Grimaldo, on the left wing, has contributed 11 assists, the highest in the Bundesliga, and nine goals. This is more than half of the number of goals he scored at Sporting Lisbon from 2016 to 2023. Dutch star of Ghanaian heritage Jeremie Frimpong has eight goals and seven assists, while Nigeria’s Nathan Tella has scored five goals with one assist.

Having watched them thrice this season, twice in their home ground at the BayArena and once at the Rheinenergie Stadion against FC Cologne (after which this interview was conducted), it is a team built to perfection by the Spaniard.

“Nothing is perfect, but we have a good team,” said sporting director Simon Rolfes to Soccernet.ng. “A good team for sure; we have a good squad.

“We’ve got a good spirit, not only technically but also from the spirit inside the group, a winner’s mentality. And a never-give-up mentality is something I’m really proud of,” said Rolfes, a former team captain.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Nigerian striker Nathan Tella. Photo: Getty Images/Bundesliga International
A new chapter
For a team that earned the unflattering nickname of “Neverkusen” after it failed to win any of the titles it came close to winning between 2000-2002, this year’s cohort is set to banish all the bad history and set a new course.

With every win, they get stronger mentally. As Nigerian striker Victor Boniface said in a recent ObiOne podcast episode, “We tell ourselves, ‘Not today’.”

They are 10 points ahead of Bayern, whom they defeated 3-0 at home in February after picking a 2-2 draw in Munich early in the season. Is it finally the year of Leverkusen?

“We have a strong squad. It keeps a competitive spirit, but also it is a strong group,” said Rolfes. It is a fact that they lost four key players to the Africa Cup of Nations in January and early February but managed to keep their run going. There was also a long injury layoff to their leading scorer Boniface (10 goals and 7 assists), who has begun to train again, giving the team options in attack for the title run-in.

Victor Boniface is back at training after groin injury led to him missing the Afcon and the last three months of Bayern Leverkusen’s campaign.

The Bundesliga leaders have key battles in the domestic Cup and Europa League and are happy to have him back at this key period.… pic.twitter.com/9K3InGmLCg

— Lolade Adewuyi (@Jololade) March 25, 2024

“We said at the beginning of the season that everybody will get his chance to be an important player,” Rolfes said. “During the Africa Cup some other guys showed that they could play and got their chance.”

Bayer Leverkusen’s German midfielder Florian Wirtz. Photo: Getty Images/Bundesliga International
The Alonso future
But one matter has been popping up consistently with Alonso’s great performance in the team’s dugout. At first, it was that Real Madrid could be interested in taking him, but recently, it has been about him potentially replacing Jurgen Klopp, who announced his retirement from the Liverpool job. Bayern are also reported suitors, as Thomas Tuchel has been announced to leave at the end of the season.

Is losing Alonso a matter that keeps Rolfes wide awake at night?

“No, I’m relaxed about this topic. I have a good night’s sleep, so there are no problems,” Rolfes declared.

Leverkusen are still challenging on all fronts – the Bundesliga, DFB Pokal and the Europa League. The titles going to Leverkusen would be delightful for Rolfes and his long-suffering fans, but perhaps also for the more than half of Germany who are tired of Bayern’s 11-year stranglehold.

And they have shown that they don’t need to be perfect, just consistent and never giving up.

Leverkusen welcome Kevin Akpoguma’s Hoffenheim to the BayArena on Saturday at 3:30PM while Bayern host Dortmund in the Klassiker at 6:30PM.