Hjulmand ahead of #B04BMG: "Good options" in double pivot

Less than 24 hours after the Champions League opener at FC Copenhagen (2-2), the focus at the pre-match press conference in Leverkusen was already on the next game. Kasper Hjulmand talked about the first week with three fixtures for Bayer 04: “It’s always the third game you see a reaction. We have experienced players who have done it before who know the rhythm. As I said, it’s a privilege to play all these matches.”

Hjulmand, who emphasised his team's morale the previous evening in Copenhagen after going behind twice ("That gives us a good feeling for the future"), sees a tricky task ahead of the Werkself on Sunday. Borussia Mönchengladbach parted company with head coach Gerardo Seoane this week, with the former Bayer 04 coach being replaced by U23 coach Eugen Polanski for the interim. Hjulmand: “Of course, we don’t know exactly what structure we’ll face “a great side with good players and a team with a lot of quality.”

ON Tella: "we're positive"

Hjulmand has to continue to manage without Martin Terrier and Exequiel Palacios as well as the suspended Robert Andrich and Ezequiel Fernández. On possible options alongside Aleix Garcia for the double pivot , the 53-year-old said: "With Malik Tillman, Axel Tape, Lucas Vázquez and Ibo Maza we have different possibilities to fill the positions. So we have good options I think for this match as well.”

With regard to Nathan Tella, who suffered a knock in the clash against Eintracht Frankfurt (3-1) last Friday, Hjulmand explained: “We’ll have to see what happens but there is hope. We’ll see after today and tomorrow after the training if he’s ready. But, we’re positive”

Hjulmand on Grimaldo: "simply world class"

Asked about the latest direct free-kick goal from Alejandro Grimaldo, his third in two games, Hjulmand was full of praise: “It’s top, top in Europe right now. I think the way he kicks these free kicks is world class. It’s easy for Grimaldo to get the top spin and it’s a very difficult kick.”

Another topic at the press conference on Friday afternoon: the captaincy. Hjulmand commented: “I’ve had a meeting with the Mannschaftsrat (team council) and the captain team. And I said leadership is not a one-man band, it’s a team effort and leadership must come from a group of players.” Hjulmand also revealed that Grimaldo will lead the Werkself onto the pitch as captain in the Rhineland clash against Borussia Mönchengladbach on Sunday.