Preparations under way for #RBLB04 – Schick: ‘Next four games are defining’

The sun was out but it was freezing in Leverkusen as head coach Xabi Alonso welcomed his team to the first training session of the week on Tuesday afternoon. Most of the 75-minute session was spent on a small pitch in games of five-v-five. There were also many fans in attendance again collecting autographs and selfies afterwards.

Schick: “Felt good for 90 minutes”

Schick, who spent the 2019/20 season at Leipzig, answered questions from the media after the session, including about last weekend’s last-minute victory in Augsburg: “We were patient and believed until the final second that we could win. It was a huge step. If you want to be at the top, you need to win games like that. And we did it.”

The 27-year-old also spoke of his feelings at having played the whole game after so long out injured: “I worked very hard to be ready right now. I felt good for 90 minutes. That was important for me. At the moment we’ve only got one game per week, which is ideal for me and my recovery. I’m now ready for the next game.”

It’s a game where the Czech striker is expecting an attacking opponent in his former club: “It’ll be a different game against them compared to Augsburg. They have the ball a lot, are very dangerous in attack and solid in defence. But given our form right now, the coach’s tactical instructions, the team spirit and the drive of everybody, it’ll be tough for any opponent against us. The next four games will be defining for the next phase of the season.”

Boniface back in Leverkusen

Meanwhile, fellow striker Boniface began his recovery at the start of the week at the Werkstatt, the club’s rehabilitation and training centre, and already had a smile on his face. The Nigerian suffered a groin strain in training for the Africa Cup of Nations and had an operation a few days ago at the Charité hospital in Berlin.

Xhaka honoured in Switzerland

Xhaka used the days off after the Augsburg victory to travel back to Switzerland and receive his third Swiss National Team Player of the Year award on Monday. The 31-year-old Werkself midfielder became his country’s record appearance holder in November and now has 121 senior caps.

Xhaka was previously given the award in 2017 and 2022. Switzerland’s captain prevailed this year against Manuel Akanji, who won the treble with Manchester City, and Burnley’s Zeki Amdouni.