Bayer Leverkusen: Europa League matters twice due to oversized squad

Bayer Leverkusen approaches the Europa League with a double message: it’s a genuine route to fighting for the title, but also a sensitive test for a squad they feel is “too big”.

As manager Simon Rolfes admits, the team’s roster is strong both in quality and—he says—especially in numbers. That balance can help across the season, yet it turns risky if results don’t come early.

That’s why a successful European campaign carries extra weight for Leverkusen: chasing silverware, while also avoiding the complications that would follow an early drop-out and the burden of having too many players.