Bayer’s Patrik Schick is currently rarely on the pitch and has to be patient. Managing Director Simon Rolfes talks about the situation of the sensitive attacker.
Recently, there was some time to gain some perspective. The Werkself pros who are not currently on a trip with their national teams were given a few days off by coach Xabi Alonso. This allowed Patrik Schick to catch his breath a little. Czech Republic national team coach Ivan Hasek had spoken of “minor injuries” that had hampered the attacker at the beginning of the season and which he could now recover from, in the wake of the 28-year-old’s non-nomination for the Nations League duels. But Schick is fit – and in truth, and in agreement with Hasek, he decided to miss the international matches in order to get back on track in Leverkusen.
Bayer’s Schick gets off to a poor start in the new season
So far, the season is not going at all as he would have wished. Two below-average appearances in the starting eleven in Jena (1-0) and against Wolfsburg (4-3) are on the books, as are four substitute appearances, although he was left on the bench for the two big games in Munich (1-1) and against AC Milan (1-0) – and he has not yet been able to celebrate a single goal. His start to the season has been a complete failure, that much is clear. So far, however, the striker has been unable to get past fellow forward Victor Boniface with his strong first touch and heading. The powerful Nigerian can undoubtedly still improve, but he is usually well integrated, does a lot to develop the game, is always ready for unforeseen actions – and has already scored five times.
Schick, who occasionally seems to be at odds with Bayer’s short-passing game and needs to be fed, is therefore currently only a part-time starter, fighting for more playing time and his next chance to start. It’s debatable when he’ll get it, though: against Frankfurt on Saturday? Then in Brest? In Bremen? Or rather against second division side Elversberg in the cup? In any case, Xabi Alonso did not even start with the sensitive attacker against promoted team Kiel (2:2). He also started on the bench there.
Bayer’s Schick has to take his few chances
And that raises the question: How do you get into top form if you only get a relatively small number of minutes on the pitch? “Then,” says managing director Simon Rolfes, “training is all the more important. You have to prepare yourself for the moment when you get the chance. You can gain confidence in training – in finishing situations, but also in interaction with the other guys. And then you have to make the best possible use of every minute, you don’t have any other choice.” True enough.
Schick has to work hard and keep going – and he has experience in doing so. He says he was frustrated to have only been on the bench in too many important games in the final phase of the historic 2023/24 season: “Any footballer who starts on the bench can’t be satisfied. It’s the same for me.” And so it is again.
Rolfes says: “I don’t have a problem with dissatisfaction. It would also be strange if it were different. But it doesn’t help to get lost in passivity, you have to tackle things. Besides, we see every season that a team’s first phase doesn’t have to be the last phase. There are very different phases and developments in a season. The players need to understand that, so that they work as hard as they can for the team, but are also ready when they get their chance. The season is still so long, there will be plenty more opportunities.”
Rolfes is clearly very happy with his striker’s commitment: “I see that will and that work ethic in Patrik.” And so Schick will now throw himself into the training week ahead of the top-of-the-table clash against in-form Frankfurt and continue to fight against the current trend. It is well known that he can be of great value to the Werkself. “He,” Rolfes emphasizes, “also played a very important role last season with his goal-scoring ability and finishing skills.” After all, 13 goals were ultimately on Schick’s tally sheet. A number that he is currently far from reaching.