Bayer 04 Leverkusen is German champion. The party started during the decisive game – and was exhilarating afterwards. Also because a supposed curse was finally lifted.
It was a moment in which Xabi Alonso shivered. “It’s cold,” said the Bayer 04 Leverkusen coach. The wet T-shirt, soaked in fresh beer that his players had poured over his head a few moments before, left the Spaniard with more than just a fragrant impression.
“Only the SVB is German champion,” sang Jonathan Tah, Robert Andrich and Jonas Hoffmann just a few minutes earlier, jumping and dancing with their coach. The mood at that moment could hardly have been better.
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Leverkusen pitch storm
The first championship title in the history of Bayer 04 Leverkusen was perfect after the confident 5-0 win against Werder Bremen on Sunday afternoon (04/14/24). “It’s a great honor to have become German champions with this club. The atmosphere was such that we had to win today,” said Alonso, visibly moved.
Torge Hidding, Sportschau, April 14, 2024 8:22 p.m
And while the coach tried to somehow explain this spectacular season, the 43 games without defeat across the season, around an hour and a half after the final whistle, thousands of fans were still waiting on the stadium lawn a few meters away to celebrate the winners again.
Emotions boiled over
Ten minutes before the end of the game, the stewards opened the gates to let the fans inside the stadium. However, as previously agreed between the club and fan clubs, spectators should wait until the final whistle before entering the pitch.
However, when Florian Wirtz scored the fourth goal shortly before the end of the game and the fifth goal shortly afterwards, all dams broke. Emotions pushed reason aside; referee Harm Osmers interrupted the match after the first storm until order was briefly restored. After the second goal, only his final whistle could prevent anything worse from happening. The enthusiasm bubbled over.
Leverkusen decorated in red and black
“We are very proud that we have made history for Bayer 04,” said Bayer attacker Nathan Tella later in the catacombs of the stadium with a broad grin on his face. “We knew what this meant to the people here,” he said on behalf of his teammates.
The extent to which the Werkself – which has repeatedly been said in recent years to be unable to arouse people’s emotions – electrified the city’s residents could not only be seen in the support in the stadium.
Storm in Leverkusen.
The Leverkusen districts, like the city center, were already decorated in red and black – the colors of Bayer 04 – on Saturday. Flags hung out of the windows everywhere and showed great enthusiasm.
Big increase in members
In any case, Xabi Alonso’s team has aroused unexpected interest among football fans with their performances. This season alone the club has recorded 20,000 new registrations. The Leverkusen team is aiming for 55,000 members, making them one of the ten largest clubs in the league in this category.
At the time when Reiner Calmund was still managing the club, he could only dream of these experiences. The now 75-year-old, who worked in Leverkusen for 28 years, was an important part of the painful “Vizekusen” history: when the Werkself missed the championship on the last match day and lost the cup final and the Champions League final within a few days . Calmund definitely didn’t want to miss the opportunity to witness the end of this apparent curse.
First, the ex-manager hugged the young Wirtz (“Florian is a golden boy. We don’t have five of them in the world at the moment”) in the catacombs. Then Calmund discussed with former player Michael Ballack. And he didn’t miss a visit to the players’ locker room. Even if this generation of professionals hardly knows the manager Calmund anymore.
Things continue quickly in the Europa League
But on this Sunday evening in Leverkusen there was room for everything that ensured fun and a good mood. Alonso doesn’t want to ask his players to train again until next Tuesday. Because the season is far from over.
On Thursday evening (18.04.24) the Werkself have to play against West Ham United in the quarter-final second leg of the Europa League. The final of the DFB Cup and the remaining five Bundesliga games also want to be played successfully.
Xhaka still has “a lot to do”
The Leverkusen professionals had not planned any joint celebrations. They have saved a big party for the end of the season. The players, those responsible and the coaching team will thoroughly enjoy this special evening with their families and friends, many of whom were in the stadium, and let themselves drift into Monday carefree.
Only then does the seriousness of life begin again. “We can’t lose focus. We still have a lot to do this season,” said midfield strategist Granit Xhaka with a serious expression.
