DFB.de regularly features a Germany international who is likely to have a special weekend for one reason or another. Today it's the turn of André Schürrle ahead of VfL Wolfsburg’s trip to Leverkusen (Saturday, 15:30 CET). It will be the first time that the World Champion will have returned to his former club since signing for Wolfsburg
Bayer Leverkusen have financially benefitted from André Schürrle, but he could still haunt them. Bayer 04 are due to receive 1% of the transfer fee that his new employers, VfL Wolfsburg, paid to Chelsea for his services during the winter break. Schürrle was at Chelsea for two seasons: Each season he played there meant Bayer 04 were entitled to a further 0.5% of the transfer fee the English side received for him. However, Schürrle could inflict punishment on Bayer this weekend – the sides are challenging for a Champions League spot and the result could be crucial.
“It’s not a special game for me,” explained Schürrle ahead of the game against a side that he played 83 competitive games for, scoring 23 goals. Bayer 04 were his second club: He joined them from Mainz when he was 19. He was an exciting talent at Mainz, Leverkusen turned him into an international star. In 2013 he headed to England. Chelsea made Leverkusen an offer the club couldn’t refuse. Wolfsburg did the same during the transfer window. “We remain in contact. I’m delighted that he’s a World Champion,” said Leverkusen’s sporting director Rudi Völler in an interview to the Wolfsburger Allgemeinen Zeitung. Völler enticed the player to Leverkusen in 2011 and sold him to Chelsea two years later.
Great debut on Bundesliga return
“I’m now at Wolfsburg and want to pick up three points. It’s going to be a difficult game because they’re a good side,” said Schürrle. The attacker didn’t score on his debut for the Wolves but was involved in two of the goals in the 3-0 win over Hoffenheim as well as completing 31 of his 37 passes. Dieter Hecking allowed his new signing to complete the game even though he hadn’t received much match practice at Chelsea recently. “The head coach was going to give him a bit of a break but then decided to keep him out there,” said sporting director Klaus Allofs.
Allofs and Hecking convinced Schürrle to return to German. “We spoke about our plan for VfL and realised that André could help us,” said Hecking. The Wolves beat Bayern München 4-1 in their first game of 2015 and Schürrle was impressed with the performance: “He congratulated on our performance that evening. I replied by saying that he now knows exactly why we want him.”
Löw advised him to return
Schürrle spoke to the Germany head coach ahead of his return to the Bundesliga. Joachim Löw helped him reach the decision he made. Schürrle also spoke to Mario Götze ahead of his transfer. The World Cup winning goalscorer told Sport Bild that “We spoke to each other about the situation in the decisive days. I’m delighted that he’s back in the Bundesliga, although his transfer was a bit of a surprise. He made a good decision and we can now face each other on the pitch once again.”
Wolfsburg are currently second in the table and are Bayern’s closest rivals for the title. Schürrle didn’t join Wolfsburg to be content with an eight point gap between the sides, which Götze knows too well: “André has already shown that he will help Wolfsburg cause us more trouble in the future. Whether they will be successful remains unseen.”
Wolfsburg yet to win away to Bayer 04 in the Bundesliga
Schürrle helped Germany write history in the summer. He could also helped VfL achieve something for the first time on Saturday. Wolfsburg are yet to win in Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. The sides have met 17 times and there have only been four draws. Their only win in Leverkusen came almost 40 years ago when they won 2-1 in the second-tier (North).
It’s not just Leverkusen who profited from his recent transfer. Schürrle’s first home-town team, Ludwigshafener SC, received a percentage of the fee. The money will be more valuable to them than the Bundesliga. They also don’t have to worry about the attacker coming back to haunt them anytime soon.
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DFB.de regularly features a Germany international who is likely to have a special weekend for one reason or another. Today it's the turn of André Schürrle ahead of VfL Wolfsburg’s trip to Leverkusen (Saturday, 15:30 CET). It will be the first time that the World Champion will have returned to his former club since signing for Wolfsburg
Bayer Leverkusen have financially benefitted from André Schürrle, but he could still haunt them. Bayer 04 are due to receive 1% of the transfer fee that his new employers, VfL Wolfsburg, paid to Chelsea for his services during the winter break. Schürrle was at Chelsea for two seasons: Each season he played there meant Bayer 04 were entitled to a further 0.5% of the transfer fee the English side received for him. However, Schürrle could inflict punishment on Bayer this weekend – the sides are challenging for a Champions League spot and the result could be crucial.
“It’s not a special game for me,” explained Schürrle ahead of the game against a side that he played 83 competitive games for, scoring 23 goals. Bayer 04 were his second club: He joined them from Mainz when he was 19. He was an exciting talent at Mainz, Leverkusen turned him into an international star. In 2013 he headed to England. Chelsea made Leverkusen an offer the club couldn’t refuse. Wolfsburg did the same during the transfer window. “We remain in contact. I’m delighted that he’s a World Champion,” said Leverkusen’s sporting director Rudi Völler in an interview to the Wolfsburger Allgemeinen Zeitung. Völler enticed the player to Leverkusen in 2011 and sold him to Chelsea two years later.
Great debut on Bundesliga return
“I’m now at Wolfsburg and want to pick up three points. It’s going to be a difficult game because they’re a good side,” said Schürrle. The attacker didn’t score on his debut for the Wolves but was involved in two of the goals in the 3-0 win over Hoffenheim as well as completing 31 of his 37 passes. Dieter Hecking allowed his new signing to complete the game even though he hadn’t received much match practice at Chelsea recently. “The head coach was going to give him a bit of a break but then decided to keep him out there,” said sporting director Klaus Allofs.
Allofs and Hecking convinced Schürrle to return to German. “We spoke about our plan for VfL and realised that André could help us,” said Hecking. The Wolves beat Bayern München 4-1 in their first game of 2015 and Schürrle was impressed with the performance: “He congratulated on our performance that evening. I replied by saying that he now knows exactly why we want him.”
Löw advised him to return
Schürrle spoke to the Germany head coach ahead of his return to the Bundesliga. Joachim Löw helped him reach the decision he made. Schürrle also spoke to Mario Götze ahead of his transfer. The World Cup winning goalscorer told Sport Bild that “We spoke to each other about the situation in the decisive days. I’m delighted that he’s back in the Bundesliga, although his transfer was a bit of a surprise. He made a good decision and we can now face each other on the pitch once again.”
Wolfsburg are currently second in the table and are Bayern’s closest rivals for the title. Schürrle didn’t join Wolfsburg to be content with an eight point gap between the sides, which Götze knows too well: “André has already shown that he will help Wolfsburg cause us more trouble in the future. Whether they will be successful remains unseen.”
Wolfsburg yet to win away to Bayer 04 in the Bundesliga
Schürrle helped Germany write history in the summer. He could also helped VfL achieve something for the first time on Saturday. Wolfsburg are yet to win in Leverkusen in the Bundesliga. The sides have met 17 times and there have only been four draws. Their only win in Leverkusen came almost 40 years ago when they won 2-1 in the second-tier (North).
It’s not just Leverkusen who profited from his recent transfer. Schürrle’s first home-town team, Ludwigshafener SC, received a percentage of the fee. The money will be more valuable to them than the Bundesliga. They also don’t have to worry about the attacker coming back to haunt them anytime soon.
