The new players will also be playing under a new manager. André Breitenreiter is hoping for more success in Gelsenkirchen than his predecessor Roberto di Matteo. The players are showing themselves to be very fond of the new coach’s style. Captain Höwedes says, “You notice that he is really up for this task and wants to develop our team further. I’ve seen the sparkle in his eyes when we met for the first time. That absolutely convinced me. On one hand the coach is easygoing, but on the other hand he leads the team with great style. André Breitenreiter is a superb fit for Schalke and radiates euphoria with his manner.”
What are the expectations?: Schalke are not really looking at the table. For them it’s more about the basics and then their position in the table will follow. Captain Höwedes sees it like this: “We won’t start by naming a position that we’re want to aim for. We’ve distanced ourselves from that this year. I hope that we can go into the first half of the season with a good feeling and the positive momentum that we picked up from pre-season and so get off to a good start. As a team, we want to do everything for success.”
When do they start?: Schalke’s 5-0 win at Duisburg in the DFB Cup was a convincing opening to the new season, and the Royal Blues begin their Bundesliga campaign on Saturday. It will be a special game for new signing Franco di Santo as Schalke go to his former club Werder Bremen.
Bayer Leverkusen
Germany internationals: Bayer have a trio of Germany internationals at their disposal: Lars Bender, Karim Bellarabi and World Cup winner Christoph Kramer.
What’s new?: World Cup winner Kramer is make his third new start after the midfielder’s two loan spells away from Leverkusen (first to Bochum, then to Gladbach). He has since extended his contract until 2019. Why? “The talks convinced me from the very beginning. I like the other approach to football that you have in Leverkusen.” Kramer has big plans at Bayer – and he is self-assured. “I am a Germany international – I have shown that I can play football and at a good level. I don’t want to presume anything, but I didn’t come here not to play.” As well as Kramer, Kyriakos Papadopoulos has also arrived from Schalke, Jonathan Tah from Hamburg Admir Mehmedi from Freiburg, Andre Ramalho from Salzburg and Charles Aranguiz from Porto Alegre. The captain is also new, with Lars Bender taking over the role from Simon Rolfes. On the topic of Bender, manager Roger Schmidt says, “The success of the team comes first for him. He has deserved the position.” And he feels good in Leverkusen. Bender says, “In 2009 I never could’ve imagined that I could identify with the Bayer way. Honestly, I’ve come to appreciate and love the club. I feel better than ever. But of course that depends on all of us and on how we’ve been playing successful football for a number of years and how I’ve been able to develop.”
What are the expectations?: Bayer amassed 33 points in the second half of last season, only one less than Bayern. Leverkusen, however, do not see themselves as title challengers. “It’s not possible,” says sporting director Rudi Völler. “Bayern are unstoppable simply because of their financial power. Our minimum aim is a Europa League place, but reaching the Champions League would be better.”
When do they start?: Bayer comfortably won 3-0 against Lotte in the first round of the DFB Cup. Their league campaign begins on Saturday when they host 1899 Hoffenheim.
The 53rd Bundesliga season gets underway again on Friday when FC Bayern München meet Hamburger SV. When the ball gets rolling there will almost always be Germany internationals on show. DFB.de will be outlining what the Bundesliga clubs have done and their ambitions for the new season from the perspective of Die Mannschaft. Today these clubs are Dortmund, Schalke and Leverkusen, who all see themselves as competition for runners-up VfL Wolfsburg.
Borussia Dortmund
Germany internationals: With Roman Weidenfeller, Mats Hummels, Matthias Ginter, Erik Durm and Kevin Großkreutz, there are five World Cup winners in the BVB squad. Ilkay Gündogan, Marco Reus and Sven Bender missed the tournament in Brazil through injury.
What’s new?: BVB have been untypically restrained in this transfer window. With Roman Bürki from Freiburg they have a new goalkeeper; Gonzalo Castro came from Leverkusen, Julian Weigl from 1860. Unlike previous years, BVB have this time been successful in keeping hold of all their best performers. Reus, Hummels, Gündogan, Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan have all remained loyal to the club.
There was an argument for everyone to want to experience how the new BVB defines itself, because the team have a new man at the helm. Jürgen Klopp is no longer Dortmund’s coach, Thomas Tuchel has taken the reins. Despite the premise of maintaining established products, the motto under the new coach is: Back to the beginning. The new coach has changed things, and even comments from players suggest that the differences between Klopp and Tuchel are huge. Nevan Subotic says, “Klopp and Tuchel are completely different. Now we’re learning a lot about possession, with details that we hadn’t encountered previously: with which foot you receive the ball, how you pass so that it’s more than just a pass, so that it’s a pass with instructions to your teammates so that they know what they should do with it…” the coach’s work is also impressing the management: “when I see how meticulous Tuchel prepares his training sessions and how much effort he puts in, that gains my respect,” says chairman Hans-Joachim Watzke.
What are the expectations?: Progression. The previous season cost Dortmund their long-time successful coach, the team were bottom of the table at one stage and their Bundesliga status was in severe danger. That should not be repeated this year. The aims are high, but the new coach is naming modest targets. Tuchel has labelled his team as “top four challengers”, but his players are less restrained. World Cup winner Mats Hummels says: “We are only considering places one to three, minimum fourth – that’s what we’re working towards.”
When do they start?: Dortmund’s season has already started. They have passed the hurdles of Wolfsberger AC in Europa League qualification with two wins, and Dortmund avoided any problems with a 2-0 in the DFB Cup at Chemnitz. Borussia’s Bundesliga campaign begins against the other Borussia on Saturday when BVB meet VfL Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Schalke 04
Germany internationals: Benedikt Höwedes and Julian Draxler.
What’s new?: In terms of playing staff, Schalke have held onto their prominent players and also brought in big names. There were rumours surrounding Benedikt Höwedes, Julian Draxler and even Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, but they have all stayed. Even Sidney Sam, capped five times for the national team, has another chance after being suspended indefinitely and then apologising. These players will also have new teammates for the new season, including Germany U21 international Johannes Geis from Mainz, Franco di Santo from Bremen, former Germany international Sascha Riether from Freiburg and Brazilian Junior Ciacara from Bulgaria.
The new players will also be playing under a new manager. André Breitenreiter is hoping for more success in Gelsenkirchen than his predecessor Roberto di Matteo. The players are showing themselves to be very fond of the new coach’s style. Captain Höwedes says, “You notice that he is really up for this task and wants to develop our team further. I’ve seen the sparkle in his eyes when we met for the first time. That absolutely convinced me. On one hand the coach is easygoing, but on the other hand he leads the team with great style. André Breitenreiter is a superb fit for Schalke and radiates euphoria with his manner.”
What are the expectations?: Schalke are not really looking at the table. For them it’s more about the basics and then their position in the table will follow. Captain Höwedes sees it like this: “We won’t start by naming a position that we’re want to aim for. We’ve distanced ourselves from that this year. I hope that we can go into the first half of the season with a good feeling and the positive momentum that we picked up from pre-season and so get off to a good start. As a team, we want to do everything for success.”
When do they start?: Schalke’s 5-0 win at Duisburg in the DFB Cup was a convincing opening to the new season, and the Royal Blues begin their Bundesliga campaign on Saturday. It will be a special game for new signing Franco di Santo as Schalke go to his former club Werder Bremen.
Bayer Leverkusen
Germany internationals: Bayer have a trio of Germany internationals at their disposal: Lars Bender, Karim Bellarabi and World Cup winner Christoph Kramer.
What’s new?: World Cup winner Kramer is make his third new start after the midfielder’s two loan spells away from Leverkusen (first to Bochum, then to Gladbach). He has since extended his contract until 2019. Why? “The talks convinced me from the very beginning. I like the other approach to football that you have in Leverkusen.” Kramer has big plans at Bayer – and he is self-assured. “I am a Germany international – I have shown that I can play football and at a good level. I don’t want to presume anything, but I didn’t come here not to play.” As well as Kramer, Kyriakos Papadopoulos has also arrived from Schalke, Jonathan Tah from Hamburg Admir Mehmedi from Freiburg, Andre Ramalho from Salzburg and Charles Aranguiz from Porto Alegre. The captain is also new, with Lars Bender taking over the role from Simon Rolfes. On the topic of Bender, manager Roger Schmidt says, “The success of the team comes first for him. He has deserved the position.” And he feels good in Leverkusen. Bender says, “In 2009 I never could’ve imagined that I could identify with the Bayer way. Honestly, I’ve come to appreciate and love the club. I feel better than ever. But of course that depends on all of us and on how we’ve been playing successful football for a number of years and how I’ve been able to develop.”
What are the expectations?: Bayer amassed 33 points in the second half of last season, only one less than Bayern. Leverkusen, however, do not see themselves as title challengers. “It’s not possible,” says sporting director Rudi Völler. “Bayern are unstoppable simply because of their financial power. Our minimum aim is a Europa League place, but reaching the Champions League would be better.”
When do they start?: Bayer comfortably won 3-0 against Lotte in the first round of the DFB Cup. Their league campaign begins on Saturday when they host 1899 Hoffenheim.
