Champions Bayer 04 kick off the new season on Friday. Coach Xabi Alonso has not yet decided whether captain Lukas Hradecky or Matej Kovar will be the Leverkusen goalkeeper for the game in Mönchengladbach. An unfamiliar situation for veteran Hradecky
He played in the Supercup against Stuttgart (2:2, 4:3 i.E.) as well as in the dress rehearsal against Real Betis (1:1). Of course, you might say, after all Lukas Hradecky (34) was the clear number one in Leverkusen’s goal last season. At least in the Bundesliga. His potential successor to the throne, Matej Kovar (24), was allowed to prove himself in the DFB Cup and the Europa League.
But although Hradecky did his job well in the two most recent games and also shone with a total of four saves as penalty taker in both shoot-outs, the Finnish international goalkeeper cannot be sure of his position. “It’s different for me too,” explained the 35-year-old, who only received his starting eleven mandate from Xabi Alonso two days before the game, “the communication is there. I found out two days beforehand that I was playing. That’s good enough for me. “
“Whether I’m captain or not – Xabi has to decide who plays ”
Despite a strong pre-season, despite his status as captain and although he has clearly stood out from his rival Kovar in terms of performance this calendar year, Hradecky is not making any claims. “It’s not a matter of course that I can still play for a club like this at my age. I’m happy that I can show my qualities. Whether I’m captain or not – Xabi has to decide who plays.”
There is no question that he wants to play. And he has already underlined that he wants to play internationally this season, when Bayer will be competing in the top flight. He is not drawing any conclusions from his nomination for the Supercup. “We’ll see who plays in Gladbach or afterwards in the cup,” says the veteran diplomatically, only to raise his finger clearly when he says: ‘I prefer to play every game. ’
If Xabi Alonso goes according to the performance principle – and that is to be assumed with the Basque, who is hungry for success – Hradecky must be number 1. But the coach puts it into perspective: “We have two number 1s,” he says, fueling the competition that the 42-year-old has identified as a decisive factor in Leverkusen’s success, as in all outfield player positions.
As long as Hradecky plays as well as he has recently, the goalkeeping question left open by Xabi Alonso will not be a problem. However, if the Finn fails to perform or Kovar, when he does play, is not convincing, discussions will begin as to whether an unclear goalkeeping hierarchy really makes sense.
Xabi Alonso certainly likes the constellation. “I’m happy,” said the coach on Saturday after the Super Cup triumph, ”and I’m delighted that Lukas put in a great performance today.” A verdict that should at least be enough for Hradecky to stand between the posts at Borussia Park on Friday.
