Conceding 15 goals in 8 league matches is a clear sign that there are reasons behind the unstable defense. Leverkusen’s midfield commander, Granit Xhaka, pointed out these issues and ruled out some common excuses or causes.
Speaking about the 2-2 draw against Bremen last Sunday, Xhaka said, “You concede a goal, and then the team has a good reaction, quickly regaining the lead, which is great. But after that, you have to take the win home. Of course, Schmid played well at 2-2, but if you stay three meters away from your opponent, it will be very difficult.”
“These conceded goals are also communication issues. If we communicate more on the field and help each other—left, right, front, back—then we will be closer to the opponents.”
“If you concede two goals per match, you can’t win games at this level. Given the current situation, we shouldn’t focus too much on pursuing higher rankings or performance targets; we need to first figure out how to avoid conceding goals. This was our strength last season. We can’t fool ourselves; we must be honest with ourselves.”
“Rotation cannot be an excuse. We have enough quality to manage rotations. It’s not about rotation, but about the final effort in the box. That’s our ‘home,’ and no one should enter it, yet too many people are getting in right now.”
“The atmosphere within the team is very good. I believe that even in such a phase, the atmosphere won’t be ruined.”
“This is part of football. Sometimes you go through a phase where you concede goals, and perhaps a bit of bad luck is involved. We understand this.”
