In an interview with Sky Sports Germany, Leverkusen coach Casper Jurman talked about leading Leverkusen back on track, the future growth of the team, Grimaldo and other topics.
You took over the team midway through September this year. How did you get this new Leverkusen back on track?
This is not just about me, but the joint efforts of many people to bring the club to success. Of course, it was very important that I analyzed the football philosophy of the club and the team and developed a clear and probably simple framework of the game philosophy system. The players immediately accepted this framework very well.
This is a new team with a lot of new players as well as a new coaching staff, so it is important not to complicate everything but to start with a simple and clear plan and build from there. Excellent results are achieved by the players relying on their own strength, and the game always depends on the players to win. As a coach, my job is to help the players and support them with clear tactics. I explain to them how to incorporate different ideas into our game and bring all the elements together to achieve success.
What is the gap between Leverkusen and the top European teams?
We still have a long way to go. We need time to adjust, and currently we cannot compare with giants like Bayern or Paris Saint-Germain. They have been established for a long time and have been building steadily for a long time. The same was true when Alonso arrived, with Leverkusen finishing sixth in his first season before keeping the squad stable and adding some new players, with everyone working together. The most important thing for me is that we continue to develop our style of play and our team together. Time, games, training, we will do everything we can to make up for the shortcomings.
Grimaldo's special position in the team's tactics
I have seen his cooperation with Wirtz on the left wing in the past. They constantly changed positions during the game. I saw that Grimaldo was also very adaptable in the middle. Then we played a few games and I realized how much he could contribute to our midfield. It's hard to find a player who can move in from the wing into midfield, rather than staying in his fixed position. Sometimes we switch positions, for example, the midfielder goes to the wing and the full-back goes to the center, which makes it difficult for the opponent to deal with it immediately.
For example, when Grimaldo is paired with winger Poku, it can create space for Grimaldo in the center, and his performance in the center is very good. He is like a free No. 10 player, cutting in from the left to the center. I like players who can break the mold of their team's game. Because I think football is sometimes too rigid and needs more dynamics. Grimaldo is one of the players who can bring this flexibility to our tactical system!