I would say no to that. They're not quite as plastic as Wolfsburg, Leipzig or Hoffenheim, but most ‘real’ football fans wouldn't miss them if they weren't in the first division. They get goodwill this year because Bayern's streak is finally coming to an end. Plus they play nice football and, to be completely honest, it's impossible not to like Xabi.
Xabi Alonso: Bayer Leverkusen manager
- Thread starter horsechoker
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Agree with this. Most people just don't really care about them (why should they?), but if they have likeable people around then that's fine.
Maybe even second place in the "big teams that no one cares about?" ranking behind Hertha?
12th on the "eternal Bundesliga table".
https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/bundesliga/ewigeTabelle/wettbewerb/L1
I'm sure they were thinking Bertha there, she was big
Pft. Here in Italy we have an entire region that doesn't actually exist. Once again, Italy beats Germany
Also called them losing to Kaiserslautern months ago. Has to be. They're Leverkusen, their place in history has to involve some ridiculous defeat and heartbreak. Kaiserslautern is getting relegated too, just to rub it in
We receive lots of good will from most rival fans, even many Cologne fans I know are rooting for us
At least that's true as long as they aren't playing against us, obviously every team would love to be the one who ends itHonestly I think the atmosphere around their matches is nothing special. After all Leverkusen is and will be a suburb club that's lucky it's affiliated with a huge corporation. And yes, while of course everyone wants to beat them, after the match it's mostly "well, nobody else could beat them, so no shame in not doing it today".
Actually I think the completely dominant league win lead to the general mood being more disinterested then most would have expected. Everyone thought that some day there finally has to be a team that grabs the title from Bayern's claws in an epic battle. Instead Leverkusen has been mostly cruising through the season and it has been more boring than most of Bayern's recent title winning years
Still everybody is happy that Bayern's streak ends.
I don't think this lazy cliche will ever die. The atmosphere was excellent this season and his constantly been praised by the media, pundits, players, functionaries and even many rival fans.
But I guess now that the Vizekusen stick to beat us with is gone, people need something different to hate about
Gonna finish on 90 points in a 34 game season. Insane.
The league games were never in doubt.
The match on Wednesday is gonna be so intriguing. Especially as Atalanta need to win tonight to stay in touching distance of 3rd / 4th
The league games were never in doubt.
The match on Wednesday is gonna be so intriguing. Especially as Atalanta need to win tonight to stay in touching distance of 3rd / 4th
Does he get a gold plate now?
Incredible feat really
Same points as Arsenal invincibles, more goals and less conceded in less games.
It might be a poor decision to stay another season I think. I don't know how he'll be able to keep this group motivated for next season after the almighty high this season has been.
Greater achievement if they win the Europa League
and the cup!
Ah yes I thought they had already won that. Insane season.
They'll play the cup final against a team that almost got relegated from second to third tier. It's probably impossible to be a bigger favourite. Yet this probably is THE match when it finally could happen
First ever Bundesliga Invincibles. Happy to be witnessing history.
I‘m glad that they went the season unbeaten in the league as I could see gooners making it all about themselves if they did get beat in the past few weeks.
The "is yours gold?" banner sounds like Milhouses dad bragging "I sleep in a racing car, do you?"
I think it says a lot about his character. If he guides them to another league title it'll be incredible. Next season will obviously be a bigger challenge, but I think even if they finish third he won't have lost his standing, he'll have clubs to choose from.
Simple: Aim for the CL
Better than juve's 84 point total as well.
in four fewer games at that
They'll play the cup final against a team that almost got relegated from second to third tier. It's probably impossible to be a bigger favourite. Yet this probably is THE match when it finally could happen
Oh god can you imagine if they lose that.
Whilst it would still be an absolutely incredible season, it would be bloody funny
I can... and actually I'd be happy about it, because I really like Friedhelm Funkel (Kaiserslautern's manager) and would be very happy for him if he finally wins something after decades of solid work.
They’ll be 2-0 down heading into added time and score 3
Pft. The best invincibles are Perugia. They did it first, plus they didn't win the league. That's much harder to do than 90 points or whatever
Much better, we beat "the invincibles" twice that season. Chelsea and Middlesbrough beat them too
Considering they only won two of their first 12 games last season and at one point looking like relegation contenders, this is an inspirational and pretty miraculous turnaround. Be a good cup final from a narrative point of view from both teams, whoever wins it. Probably less so if Leverkusen lose the Europa though.
An undefeated league is pretty goddamn pointless, which was proven heavily by how little Messi and Barcelona cared about it a few years.... an undefeated season however, is pretty goddamn immense. Kudos to this team, incredible run.
Not done yet, they still have two finals to play. They are big favorites, of course.
Arsenal fans everywhere are feeling a severe burning sensation in their ears….
Well deserved
49 is still a very good number
But it's worse. And it's not a full season.
That was only in the league though. They were losing games during that run
Leverkusen are actually unbeaten in I believe it's 52 now. Staggering
Crazy too to think that he, Arteta and Iraola all played together as kids in San Sebastián
Pfff… please. That’s not even a new record.