Could 2015-16 be Bayer Leverkusen's season to shine once more?

Could 2015-16 be Bayer Leverkusen's season to shine once more? [VIDEO]

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After a past campaign which saw great additions being made to the squad, a surprising revelation in Karim Bellarabi emerge and a manager with a clear and unique tactical approach being handed the reins, the stage is set for Bayer Leverkusen to build something special.

There were many more positives than negatives, and now we could see Roger Schmidt and his men take the next step in their evolution. However, Die Werkself will have to overcome mental weaknesses that have plagued the club for years, and are very much a part of their DNA.

Neverkusen. A nickname jokingly given to Bayer Leverkusen for their inability to, well, win things. They had come close on numerous occasions – nobody will ever forget their run to the 2002 Champions League final in which a star-studded side featuring the likes of Michael Ballack, Bernd Schneider, Ze Roberto, Lucio and Dimitar Berbatov fell to Real Madrid after Zinedine Zidane’s now iconic volley. Many tend to forget that Die Werkself, as they are known, were within touching distance of winning the treble, eleven years before Bayern Munich eventually became the first German club to achieve the feat. In the end, they were left empty handed as Schalke beat them 4-2 in the DFB-Pokal final and Real Madrid triumphed 2-1 in the aforementioned European final.

The hat-trick of near misses was set in motion by Leverkusen surrendering a five-point lead at the top of the table in their last three league games, allowing Borussia Dortmund to steal away the Bundesliga title by a single point. Not even to mention the 1999-2000 season, only two years earlier, when a calamitous own goal by Ballack led to a final-day loss when only a draw was needed against minnows Unterhaching, allowing Bayern Munich to grab the title.

The promise of that era was swiftly ended by Bayern Munich, who poached Ballack, Ze Roberto and Lucio in the summer of 2002, with Berbatov also to leave for pastures anew shortly after. A decade of being there and there about, but never truly challenging, followed, but is the next ‘Golden Generation’ beginning to take shape? The arrival of manager Roger Schmidt from Red Bull Salzburg last summer was a bold move to install a playing identity at the club, and the ruthless pursuit of Hamburger SV’s young star Hakan Calhanoglu was a clear indication that Die Werkself meant business. The emergence of Karim Bellarabi, who after an underwhelming loan spell at Eintracht Braunchweig seemed to have little to no future in the Bundesliga, as a key figure in the team was a pleasant surprise, while exciting talents like Heung-Min Son and Bernd Leno continued their development. Combined with the class and experience of Lars Bender and Stefan Kießling, there was a real sense of intrigue surrounding the team. Their Bundesliga campaign started with a bang as Leverkusen shocked BVB at the Westfalenstadion, with Bellarabi scoring the fastest goal in Bundesliga history in just nine seconds, but was plagued with inconsistency, leading to an eventual fourth-place finish.

As the new season draws nearer, there is a sense of great optimism. The players are all a year older and more experienced, and the manager has had time to get his ideas across. The permanent signing of 19-year-old Tin Jedvaj from AS Roma after having impressed immensely whilst on loan was a massive coup, while centre-back Andre Ramalho’s arrival from Red Bull Salzburg to reunite with his former manager will add some defensive nous to a team that, due to their furious attacking style of play, left too many gaps at the back last season. Die Werkself are also in the process of finalizing the signing of HSV’s highly-rated teenager Jonathan Tah, which shows how the onus has been put on buying young, talented players who can be moulded into the system as they develop. Of course, the retirement of club captain Simon Rolfes means the loss of an experienced head, but in pure footballing terms Gonzalo Castro will be a bigger miss after swapping Leverkusen for Dortmund. However, after a hugely impressive loan spell at Borussia Mönchengladbach, World Cup winner Christoph Kramer is ready to become the midfield general every top club needs to compete.

Kramer's breakthrough 2014-15 season saw him score five goals at M'gladbach
Kramer’s breakthrough 2014-15 season saw him score five goals at M’gladbach

So, what would constitute a successful 2015-16? It might be unrealistic to put Die Werkself down as title challengers, as Bayern Munich are unrivalled in their depth of quality. But amidst the praise heaped upon VfL Wolfsburg after their exploits last season and the excitement regarding the new Thomas Tuchel led era at Borussia Dortmund, one feels that Leverkusen could stake their claim in the battle to be the second best team in the Bundesliga. Also, in cup competitions Leverkusen could be a side nobody wants to face, and their performance in last season’s Champions League last 16 clash against Atletico Madrid proves that. Die Werkself played Atletico off the pitch at the BayArena, but paid the price for profligacy in front of goal in the second leg at the Vicente Calderon, eventually exiting meekly on penalties.

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That highlights the mental aspect of it all – their notorious losing mentality saw them crumble under the pressure in both the DFB-Pokal and Champions League, falling on penalties to both Bayern and Atletico, respectively. The greatest task facing coach Schmidt is not creating a competitive and tactically astute team, which he is in the process of perfecting, but rather to create a winning atmosphere in time, and instil the mental mettle into his players to triumph when the chips are down. It is an abstract concept, and tough to create – which is why many have tried and failed to do so at Leverkusen.

If this could be achieved, Die Werkself can be a match for anybody. Their relentless pressing and high-octane attacking play has won them many admirers, and if the more subtle aspects thereof can be perfected, as well as their consistency, the potential is there for a really good team to become extraordinary. Is this 2015-2016 campaign the season for Bayer Leverkusen to shine? It could very well be. The only thing we know for sure is that at this passage in time, the future looks very bright indeed.

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