The China Mail - Rebuilding Leverkusen wary of world's best PSG

After the most successful period in the German club's 120-year-old history, which included an unbeaten league and cup double and a run to the Europa League final in 2023/24, Leverkusen lost coach Xabi Alonso and several first teamers in the summer.

Alonso's successor Erik ten Hag was sacked after just two league matches, with Dane Kasper Hjulmand since tasked with bedding in almost a starting XI of new arrivals.

Of those, France defender Loic Bade has quickly made an impression, already calling the shots in central defence.

In an interview with AFP, Paris-born Bade said that Leverkusen needed to be wary of the French giants, calling PSG "the best team in the world right now".

- 'Hometown club' -

Bade, who came through the junior ranks at Paris FC and then Le Havre, overcame an unhappy loan stint at Nottingham Forest before moving to Sevilla and winning the Europa League.

He was called up to the France squad for the Paris Olympics in 2024, winning silver, and made his full international bow earlier this year.

At Leverkusen, Bade was tasked with replacing Germany centre-back Jonathan Tah, who moved to Bayern Munich.

"I'm playing against my hometown club," Bade said, adding that "of course, this match is a little bit close to my heart.

"I think they're the best in the world right now, even with the injuries they have."

With just a month between being on the losing side in the Club World Cup final and the season kicking off with the UEFA Super Cup, PSG have been hit by a wave of injuries.

Ousmane Dembele, Marquinhos, Fabian Ruiz and Joao Neves have all spent time on the sidelines, while Champions League final man-of-the-match Desire Doue returned in Friday's 3-3 draw with Strasbourg.

"Despite the absences, they have a very large squad and a great coach," said Bade.

Leverkusen are still finding their feet in the Champions League, having drawn two from two. The 2002 Champions League finalists came from behind twice to draw 2-2 at FC Copenhagen, and were then held to a 1-1 draw at home to PSV Eindhoven.

Leverkusen are yet to lose in seven games since Hjulmand took over, but face a tougher test against an albeit depleted PSG.

The European champions have started slowly in the league this season, dropping seven points in their opening eight games to sit in an unfamiliar second spot.

But the Parisians have won two from two in the Champions League, at home against Atalanta and away at Barcelona.

- 'A connector' -

Bade will be key if Leverkusen's defence are able to keep PSG's vaunted attack at bay.

The 25-year-old cuts a calm and collected figure in defence, but Leverkusen have also lauded his impact off the pitch.

Usually playing in a back three alongside Englishman Jarell Quansah and Edmond Tapsoba, from Burkina Faso -- along with Spanish duo Lucas Vazquez and Alex Grimaldo on the flanks -- Bade is the centrepiece.

In an interview with AFP and other media on Thursday, sporting director Simon Rolfes said "it's amazing how Loic has played, but it's amazing as well how he acts off the pitch -- and that's very important for us this summer.

"He's a connector in the locker room. We have a lot of Spanish-speaking guys, French-speaking guys, English-speaking guys... if you're so international, it's important that you have connectors in the team."

Midfielder Exequiel Palacios, a World Cup winner with Argentina, lauded Bade for jumping ahead of the learning curve.

"With Bade, the truth is that since he arrived, he's become a very strong player who demonstrates his organisational skills in defence," Palacios told AFP and other media on Thursday.

"As a player and as a person, he continues to surprise. I'm really happy he's here at Leverkusen."

C.Fong--ThChM