Conceding 15 goals in 8 league matches is a clear sign that an unstable defense has its reasons. Leverkusen’s midfield commander, Granit Xhaka, pointed out these issues and ruled out some common excuses or causes.
Speaking about the 2-2 draw against Bremen last Sunday, Xhaka said, “You concede a goal, and then the team has a great reaction, quickly regaining the lead, which is good. But after that, you have to bring home the win. Of course, Schmid played well when it was 2-2, but if you stay three meters away from your opponent, it will certainly be difficult.”
“These conceded goals are also communication problems. If we communicate more on the pitch and help each other—left, right, front, back—then we will be closer to the opponents.”
“If you concede two goals per game, you can’t win at this level. Given the current situation, we shouldn’t focus too much on pursuing higher rankings or performance targets. We first need to see how we can stop conceding goals. This was our strength last season. We can’t deceive ourselves; we must be honest with ourselves.”
“Rotation cannot be an excuse. We have enough quality to manage rotations. It’s not about rotation; it’s about the final effort in the penalty area. That’s our ‘home,’ and no one should be able to enter, but currently, too many people are getting in.”
“The atmosphere within the team is very good. I believe that even in such a phase, the atmosphere won’t be ruined.”
“This is part of football. Sometimes there will be such a phase where you concede goals, and maybe you have a bit of bad luck. We understand this.”
Zakka Analyzes the Reasons for Leverkusen’s Poor Defense This Season: Lack of Communication on the Pitch. Author：Sports UEFA.Please indicate the source when reproduced：https://www.sportsuefa.com/football-world/zakka-analyzes-the-reasons-for-leverkusens-poor-defense-this-season-lack-of-communication-on-the-pitch.html
