Berlin, Oct 20 – Bayer Leverkusen’s CEO, former German midfielder Simon Rolfes, says he finally slept well again after a hectic summer of changes. The club heads into Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League clash with Paris Saint‑Germain (PSG), and Rolfes talked about the huge task of rebuilding the team, a challenge that kept him awake for weeks.
“I spent nights knowing the exact height of the ceiling above my bed,” Rolfes joked, laughing about the sleeplessness that marked the club’s recent season changes. “Things are back to normal now, but the roller‑coaster of last months will stay with me.”
Leverkusen have lost their long‑time coach Xabi Alonso and then fired Erik ten Hag after just two months. The board hired former Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand in a move that did not smooth the transition off the field. The change of managers, along with the reshuffling of the squad, caused a storm that only now appears to be calm.
The German champions, who won the 2024 Bundesliga and cup double, have faced a tough rebuild. But with three straight Bundesliga wins, Hjulmand’s young side is back on a hopeful path. Rolfes calls the hunt for a successor after the golden era “the biggest challenge.” He admits that Leverkusen will not match PSG’s quality, but he says the match is a good test: “We play against the best team in Europe, it’s a100‑break test. We can learn a lot.”
He sees PSG as the 2025 champions’ next target, yet the club is focused on “small, steady steps” to finish the season strong. After bringing in 15 new players, Hjulmand says the squad is becoming a cohesive unit again and that they are looking to compete for the German title.
Leverkusen’s future relies on its young core. Rolfes stresses that a successful club can’t just be bought; a new team must be carefully built. He highlighted midfielder Alejandro Grimaldo, who has stepped up after midfielder Florian Wirtz’s move to Liverpool. Grimaldo has scored four goals and delivered an assist in seven games and is now a key player in Leverkusen’s lineup.
While PSG remains the favorite, Rolfes is optimistic. He sees the league fight as a learning lesson and a loyalty‑testing clash that will strengthen the squad’s resolve. “We’re ready to fight,” he said. “If we deliver hard work, we’ll see success.”
The supporters of the German champions will watch Wednesday’s Champions League fixture to see if the rebuilt squad can rise to the occasion—and whether the new coaches and players can keep the promise that Rolfes made after a sleepless summer.
Source: ianslive
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