Rolfes’ four-pack: 40th birthday, home win, transfer coup, TV appearance

Simon Rolfes on...

…the Werkself start in 2022 with seven points from three league games: We’ve trained well and have made a successful start after the short winter break as a result. At the moment, it’s particularly doing the many young players good having more training sessions and being able to take in a lot more things. Perhaps we missed out on that in the first six months due the many midweek matches.

…Patrik Schick (18 goals in 17 Bundesliga matches) and transfer rumours: Patrik has already said he really feels at home with us. On top of that, he has a long-term contract with us to 2025 and he isn’t thinking about leaving the club at all. Patrik is a really important part of the team and we are firmly convinced he’ll be playing for us next season. Others can play transfer dominoes but we play football.

…a possible release clause for Patrik Schick and his role in the team: Before there’s too much speculation – Patrik and Florian Wirtz do not have release clauses and therefore the ball’s in our court. Patrik not only has the chance to become a top player with us but also the opportunity of being a leader in the team. At the end of the day, that’s another step-up in the development of a striker towards being at the absolute top level – he has a very good chance of doing that here with us.

…the signing announced at the weekend of striker Sardar Azmoun, who will join Leverkusen from Zenit St. Petersburg in the summer, and the question of the the Iranian being a potential replacement for Patrik Schick: No, not at all. He complements Patrik Schick brilliantly and it’s exactly the same with other attacking players. We have a good squad that should grow but also be improved in particular positions. And we believe Sardar Azmoun is a good signing. He provides lots of goals and assists, has a certain experience, is good in the air and quick. That’s why we say: Schick and Azmoun.

…the targets for Bayer 04: We want to be in the Champions League next season, grow with our team and hold on to our players. We want to develop every individual player and the team as a whole so we have an even better side next season than we do now.

…the time after Rudi Völler: I’ve really valued working with Rudi over the years and he’s given me plenty of leeway on the operational side but he was also always on hand to give advice despite that. That gave me the chance to grow into this role and gradually take on more and more responsibility.