Bayer Leverkusen at risk of collapse

The defeat against Bielefeld not only ended Leverkusen's hopes of winning the cup but also pushed them into a crisis.

Early morning of April 2 ( Hanoi time), the whole city of Bielefeld was shaken by the victory of their favorite football team. At home stadium Bielefelder Alm, the third-tier team Arminia Bielefeld defeated the reigning Bundesliga champions to enter the German National Cup final for the first time.

A hard-to-swallow defeat

Under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen went into the match as strong contenders for a second successive final. However, they were unable to overwhelm a Bielefeld side that had never reached the final of the German Cup before.

Throughout the match, Bielefeld's number of shots on target (3 times) was almost equal to Leverkusen's (4 times). Coach Xabi Alonso's team also had a slight advantage in ball possession (52% compared to 48%). This was a historic victory for Bielefeld - the team that had defeated 4 opponents in the upper division (in Bundesliga 1 and Bundesliga 2) before.

However, defeating Leverkusen was clearly Bielefeld's biggest achievement this season. Bielefeld will qualify for next season's Europa League if they beat RB Leipzig or Stuttgart in the final in May.

If that happens, German football will witness an unprecedented phenomenon, because Bielefeld is even at a disadvantage in the race to return to Bundesliga 2. They can participate in the Europa League next season as a team playing in the third division.

Home team coach Michel Kniat could not hide his pride: “We don’t need luck, because the team always plays proactively”. He also revealed his plan to break the rules of getting drunk with the players, declaring that “the whole city of Bielefeld will not sleep tonight”.

In contrast, Leverkusen were in crisis. Midfielder Robert Andrich admitted that this was the club's "worst game of the season", stressing that Bielefeld deserved to win because Leverkusen made too many mistakes.

Alonso, who had gone 10 games unbeaten in the German Cup, looked to have lost his way. Bielefeld's sharp counter-attacks repeatedly put Leverkusen's defence on edge, while Patrick Schick - a regular late scorer for the team last season - missed an 81st-minute equaliser when he headed against the post while unmarked.

Bielefeld celebrate historic achievement.

This defeat was the last straw after Leverkusen were eliminated from the Champions League and almost lost hope of winning the Bundesliga. From being the top candidate on all three fronts, the team now faces the prospect of empty hands - something that few expected at the beginning of this year's season.

Uncertain future

The defeat has also fuelled speculation about the possible departure of coach Xabi Alonso and key players such as Jeremie Frimpong, Florian Wirtz and Alejandro Grimaldo. The pressure is mounting on coach Alonso, who was praised for leading Leverkusen to beautiful attacking play and breaking many records last season.

Experts are starting to question whether Alonso will leave the team at the end of the season, especially when big names like Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are always keeping an eye on the Spanish coach.

Jeremie Frimpong, with his speed and all-round offensive and defensive abilities, has long been a target for top European clubs. This season, Frimpong has not maintained his impressive form, but he is still a name that attracts attention from many big clubs in Europe such as Liverpool, Manchester United, and Barcelona.

Florian Wirtz, the Bundesliga's most promising young talent, will also find it difficult to stay if Leverkusen no longer has the attraction of winning titles. Wirtz has even received many offers from Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City. It is very difficult for this young talent to resist the attraction of the above top clubs.

Creative left-back Alejandro Grimaldo could also be on the move if the club continue to struggle. This disappointing season threatens to lead to a talent exodus at Leverkusen.

In a German Cup full of surprises this year – with Bayern Munich, Borussia Dortmund and Eintracht Frankfurt all crashing out – Leverkusen ultimately failed to capitalise, reflecting the stunning decline of a team that was a phenomenon last season.

Source: https://znews.vn/bayer-leverkusen-truoc-nguy-co-sup-do-post1542577.html