Exclusive: Thomas Brdarić on Leverkusen’s New Era and Why Florian Wirtz Will Need Time to Adapt to the Premier League

Thomas Brdarić is a well-known former German footballer who played for several top clubs, including VfB Stuttgart, Hannover 96, and VfL Wolfsburg. However, he is best remembered for his five-year spell at Bayer Leverkusen, where he was part of the squad that famously reached the 2002 UEFA Champions League Final against Real Madrid.

Following his playing career, Brdaric transitioned into management, coaching various clubs with success across different parts of the world.

In an exclusive interview with SportsBoom, the former Leverkusen striker discussed several topics, including Bayer Leverkusen’s current season, Florian Wirtz’s record-breaking transfer to Liverpool, and Jeremie Frimpong’s move to England.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Season of Change

This summer marked a period of major transition for Bayer Leverkusen. The club lost head coach Xabi Alonso, and also sold two of its brightest stars, Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool.

To replace Alonso, Leverkusen initially appointed Erik ten Hag, but the partnership did not work out as expected. After a difficult start, the Dutch coach was dismissed, and Kasper Hjulmand took over the reins.

As someone who knows both the club and German football intimately, Brdarić shared his perspective on these sweeping changes and Leverkusen’s competitiveness:

“Bayer Leverkusen is one of the best clubs in Europe. They have big expectations for both players and coaches. Everybody has to prove themselves in the short or long term, and ultimately, the club decides what fits best,” he said.

“Step by step, they will come back to fight for important objectives as before. They changed a lot of players during the summer and brought in new ones who still need time to adapt. Every team needs time to succeed at the top level. With the new coach and players, they already look much better than at the beginning of the season," he told SportsBoom.com.

Florian Wirtz’s Big-Money Move to Liverpool

One of the most talked-about transfers of the summer was Florian Wirtz’s move from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool for a staggering €120 million. 

With such a massive price tag, the young German midfielder has faced intense scrutiny and pressure to perform.

The start of his Premier League journey has been challenging, with mixed performances and criticism from fans and pundits.

“Florian went to a new league, a new country, and a new culture. It’s difficult to prove yourself every week at the highest level, especially in the Premier League,” Brdarić explained.

“He did very well in Germany and developed quickly at Leverkusen, but Liverpool is on another level of expectations. Competing every season for the Champions League and Premier League titles is tough. He just needs time to adapt and understand English football better, I’m sure he will soon show the same qualities we all saw at Leverkusen.”

Jeremie Frimpong’s Challenge at Anfield

Another major departure for Leverkusen was Jeremie Frimpong, who followed Wirtz to Liverpool. The Dutch right-back has shown flashes of brilliance in England but has also struggled for consistency during his early weeks at the club.

Brdarić reflected on Frimpong’s move and what it means for both sides. 

“It’s a big loss for Leverkusen because Frimpong was a player who gave a lot to the team. His technical ability and incredible running power on the wings made a big difference,” Thomas noted.

“But I think it’s a new chapter for both for the player and for the club. Players come and go in today’s football; that’s nothing unusual. He just needs time to adapt and find stability in such a demanding league like the Premier League.”