Schick made his last appearance for Bayer on November 1. Another groin surgery was in play, which he had already undergone in May, but in the end conservative treatment won out. Even a long break, also filled with the World Cup, was not enough for him to fully recover.
“He still needs time. He’s feeling better, but he’s not ready for training at the moment,” Alonso told Bild. At the same time, Leverkusen would need Schick and his shooting skills. He is twelfth in the Bundesliga table with 18 points from 15 games.
“Patrik is of course important for us. But we have to be patient and wait. Injuries are part of football. Hopefully he will be fine soon,” said the Spanish coach. Another Czech representative, Adam Hložek, can help replace Schick. “He has taken on that role well and is helping the team a lot. It’s not an ideal position for him, but he’s doing well,” added Alonso.
Schick did not do nearly as well in the fall as last season, when he scored 24 goals in the German league and was the second best scorer. He significantly helped Leverkusen to third place.
