“We have a chance of winning the title in every competition”
Bayer boss with a tip and a declaration of war on Bavaria
January 8, 2025 – 6:50 p.mReading time: 2 min.
The sports director exemplifies the great self-confidence of the “Werkself”. Simon Rolfes sends a declaration of war to FC Bayern before the restart of the Bundesliga.
In the championship, in the cup, even in the Champions League – Simon Rolfes sees opportunities for a major coup for Bayer Leverkusen in all three competitions. “Realistically, we have a chance of winning the title in every competition,” said the managing director of the double winner on RTL/ntv before the league restart this weekend: “When you win the title, you always have to be there, in the Bundesliga, in the cup, in the Champions League. We have the energy and the willingness to give everything for it.”
With that, Rolfes also sent a small verbal tip towards Munich. Bayern have already lost their first chance to win the title – in a direct duel with Bayer. At the beginning of December, Leverkusen won the meeting in the round of 16 of the DFB Cup in the Allianz Arena 1-0 and thus knocked the record champions out of the competition.
The Werkself starts the new year on Friday evening (from 8:30 p.m. in the live ticker on t-online) with the top game at Borussia Dortmund and wants to build on the strong performances before the short winter break. “We want to win, also in Dortmund,” said Rolfes, whose team is currently four points behind championship favorites Bayern Munich: “We have the ambition and the will to win in Dortmund. That’s what drives us, our will, the full excitement on Friday.”
The former national player added that he once again feels great hunger for success in coach Xabi Alonso’s team. “Yes, the hunger for the title is back,” said Rolfes: “This anticipation of winning every game, always playing to win. That’s what distinguished us last year and will distinguish us again this year.” He expects this attitude from every single professional at Bayer. “We want to get the club to do it again every year, to win titles,” explained Rolfes.