The 5-0 win in Bochum was a special experience for Jonathan Tah, and not just because of the height. Leverkusen’s defense chief himself speaks of a milestone that should not be the last of the season.
Bayer’s Jonathan Tah is keen on more silverware. IMAGO/Treese
After the victory is before the victory… Former national coach Sepp Herberger (“After the game is before the game”) already knew about the transience of success. In football, only the here and now counts.
And so, after Leverkusen’s massive win in Bochum, Jonathan Tah allowed himself just a brief look at what had been achieved. Even though this day was not an ordinary day in his career, the defender played his 350th competitive game for Bayer 04.
“350 games, 50 games unbeaten and won 5-0 – a special day for me”
“This is a milestone for me personally. 350 games, 50 games unbeaten and won 5-0 – a special day for me,” explained the defense chief, who immediately afterwards focused on the last eight brilliant days from Bayer’s perspective season.
These are tough, as Tah and his colleagues want to set three more milestones: On Saturday in the league against FC Augsburg, Bayer 04 would like to become the first Bundesliga team in history to complete an entire season without defeat before the professionals receive the championship trophy allowed to take. This will be followed by the Europa League final in Dublin against Atalanta Bergamo on Wednesday and the DFB Cup final in Berlin against Kaiserslautern on Saturday.
“The week will be full of emotions – hopefully full of positive emotions,” says the German international, “with the last Bundesliga game and the cup that we will get – the right cup and not just the plastic things we had before – and Then hopefully two more titles. I’m really looking forward to it and so is the whole team. And everyone around us is excited.”
Silverware instead of plastic
Bayer 04 have recorded 41 wins and nine draws in a perfect season so far. Another three successes are to be added, as Tah emphasizes. “Of course it’s good that we were able to continue our series with now 50 games without defeat. But we still have three games that we want to win,” says the 28-year-old and explains: “It’s not about staying unbeaten, but about this Winning is what’s in our head. We don’t go on the field and say we don’t want to lose, we go on the field and want to win.” This will happen three more times this season. Then there will be an end to plastic – and silverware instead.
2024-05-14 07:17:24
#plastic #Tahs #milestone #follow
