Sports director Simon Rolfes is also counting on the fans factor before the semi-final second leg of the Europa League with Bayer Leverkusen against AS Roma. “The atmosphere in the first leg was really great. But there will also be a special atmosphere tomorrow,” said Rolfes the day before the game in Leverkusen (Thursday, 9 p.m. / RTL): “There has been a special connection between the fans and the team over the past few weeks. I’m sure it will be a cauldron and the team will be pushed forward.”
Captain Lukas Hradecky had even announced that there would be “another big witch’s cauldron” than a week ago in Rome.
“You can see an unbelievable euphoria and unbelievable anticipation in the club,” said Rolfes on Wednesday: “The fact that we managed to turn things around after the start of the season and were able to generate this euphoria in and around the club is great.” On the other hand, he’s looking forward to the game , for which all 30,210 tickets were sold out in 90 minutes.
“Three years ago we were in the quarter-finals of the Europa League without a spectator. Then in the cup final, even without a spectator,” said Rolfes: “That’s why we enjoy these games even more. That’s what football is all about.”
The confidence of being able to make up for the 0-1 from the first leg is “very high,” said the head of sport: “And the starting position is simple: we have to win and that’s how we have to go into the game.” (dpa)
