Bayer Leverkusen coach Carles Martínez has spoken plainly about the situation of Robert Andrich. The 42-year-old manager stated that the position regarding the 31-year-old midfielder is currently unchanged, as he told reporters this week.
Martínez stressed he has not yet held talks with the former captain. "Die Situation bei Robert Andrich ist für mich im Moment unverändert," the coach said verbatim. He will speak with Andrich if anything changes. The departure of Exequiel Palacios to Ipswich Town has altered the depth in defensive midfield. The 27-year-old Argentine was a popular player at Bayer 04. Now the club is examining options on the transfer market in the coming days. There are two paths: either Bayer finds a new number six and Andrich finds a new club, or the German stays and Martínez re-evaluates his situation. The coach will speak with all players once everything is clear.
Martínez has made a clear decision regarding the goalkeepers, however. Mark Flekken is the number one in the Bundesliga. The 31-year-old will play the league matches, provided everything proceeds normally. "Wenn alles normal läuft, wird Mark unser Torwart in der Liga sein," Martínez stated clearly. Janis Blaswich has earned his place for the DFB-Pokal. The 35-year-old played a top game last week and deserved the start. Martínez made this decision last week. The goalkeeper choice for the Europa League is still pending. The manager is very satisfied with both keepers. He emphasized the importance of trust in the players. A player performs better when he knows the team is behind him.
The Werkself finished the previous season in 6th place in the Bundesliga with 59 points. From 34 games, they secured 17 wins, 8 draws, and 9 losses. The goal record was 68 scored and 47 conceded, a difference of +21. In the title race, they finished 30 points behind leaders Bayern Munich. The recent form before the season's end showed a mix of DLWWL. The next competitive match is already on August 29, 2026. Then they travel to face SV Elversberg in the DFB-Pokal.
The clarity in the goalkeeper question provides stability for the defense. For Mark Flekken, the role as league keeper is a confirmation. The situation in midfield, however, remains in flux. The departure of Palacios has created a gap. Whether this is filled by a new signing or by Robert Andrich is not yet clear. The coming days on the transfer market will be decisive. Martínez stressed the importance of clear conditions for the team atmosphere. The Werkself must use the time before the season starts to resolve the open questions and begin the new challenges as a united team.
