SOCCER-BUNDESLIGA/LEVERKUSEN Bayer Leverkusen prepare for Bundesliga clash against Bayern Munich

Record ID: 142143

  • Title: SOCCER-BUNDESLIGA/LEVERKUSEN Bayer Leverkusen prepare for Bundesliga clash against Bayern Munich
  • Date: 28th August 2015
  • Summary: LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY (AUGUST 28, 2015) (REUTERS) ***WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** BAYER LEVERKUSEN COACH ROGER SCHMIDT AND NEW SIGNING, SLOVENIAN MIDFIELDER KEVIN KAMPL, ARRIVING FOR NEWS CONFERENCE ASSEMBLED MEDIA NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYER LEVERKUSEN COACH, ROGER SCHMIDT, SAYING: "Now we are facing the next challenge, and it could not be a bigger one, as I've said before. We have to play several matches in one week, Bayern don't, and then we have to travel to Munich. It is obviously going to be difficult, that much is clear. But I don't want to go so far as to guess what the result will be. We will give our all and, of course, we want to take something away from it, but we also know that we are up against the best of the best." SCHMIDT SPEAKING / KAMPL LISTENING (SOUNDBITE) (German) BAYER LEVERKUSEN COACH, ROGER SCHMIDT, SAYING: "The events of this week ran away with us a bit but I am obviously very happy that Kevin (Kampl) is sitting here next to me and I am sure that he will be very successful at his club, where he has been playing since the junior league, I think even with (fellow Bayer Leverkusen player) Christoph Kramer." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) NEW BAYER LEVERKUSEN SIGNING, KEVIN KAMPL, SAYING: "I think he is the coach who has shaped me the most in my career and so I am simply delighted that it worked out this week. I was hoping all along that it would somehow be possible. And I am very happy and proud to be able to sign here. I hope I can give that back every day." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS VARIOUS OF KAMPPL POSING WITH HIS LEVERKUSEN SHIRT FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS VARIOUS OF TRAINING IN PROGRESS SCHMIDT LOOKING ON VARIOUS OF TRAINING IN PROGRESS
  • Embargoed: 12th September 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Germany
  • Country: Germany
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA17HQ5OWE1R1PW8RI0VWX9RUMX
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Bayer Leverkusen are brimming with confidence ahead of Saturday's (August 29) Bundesliga clash against champions Bayern Munich, having secured a Champions League group stage spot on Wednesday and guaranteed a 20 million euro windfall from that qualification.
    It is not just the European success that is giving fans hope of a win against the mighty Bavarians but also their playing style.
    Coach Roger Schmidt's tactic of relentless, suffocating pressing has so far seen them win both their Bundesliga matches this season while also overturning a 1-0 first leg deficit against Lazio with an inspiring 3-0 victory against the Italians in the return leg.
    Few teams can resist this continuous attack if Leverkusen find their footing in the game, with players like Hakan Calhanoglu, Stefan Kiessling, Karim Bellarabi and even central defender Kyriakos Papapdopoulos cutting the air supply of opponents in their own half early on.
    Schmidt, however, knows Saturday's match will be no walk in the park, especially after Leverkusen's hard-earned Champions League qualification and with Bayern having not had a mid-week game of their own.
    "Now we are facing the next challenge, and it could not be a bigger one, as I've said before. We have to play several matches in one week, Bayern don't, and then we have to travel to Munich. It is obviously going to be difficult, that much is clear. But I don't want to go so far as to guess what the result will be. We will give our all and of course we want to take something away from it, but we also know that we are up against the best of the best," Schmidt told a news conference on Friday (August 28).
    Leverkusen also announced on Friday the re-signing of Slovenian midfielder Kevin Kampl.
    Kampl started his career in the youth set-up at Leverkusen, before a wandering early career saw him endure an unsuccessful season with Borussia Dortumund last time around.
    Now he has re-joined Leverkusen on a five-year contract, joining Schmidt, who also managed him when he played for Austrian side Red Bull Salzburg.
    "I am obviously very happy that Kevin is sitting here next to me and I am sure that he will be very successful at his club," Schmidt said, who has been forced to bring in Kampl quickly following the departure of South Korean forward Heung-min Son to English side Tottenham Hotspur earlier on Friday.
    Kampl said he was delighted to be back at Leverkusen, and especially to work with Schmidt.
    "I think he is the coach who has shaped me the most in my career and so I am simply delighted that it worked out this week. I was hoping all along that it would somehow be possible. And I am very happy and proud to be able to sign here. I hope I can give that back every day," said the Slovenian.
    Leverkusen have won both of their Bundesliga matches so far this season, as have upcoming opponents, and reigning champions, Bayern.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register