Moussa Diaby sees a clear shift in attitude at Bayer Leverkusen. The former winger, who left the club in 2023, has now commented on the team's development.
"The mentality has changed," Diaby said. "The players believe more in themselves now and that they can achieve something." The 27-year-old spoke during a visit to Leverkusen, where he met old teammates. He said he got the impression the club has found a new identity.
Diaby spent four years at Bayer Leverkusen before moving to the Premier League. During that time he experienced different managers and phases. He observed that this season's squad now stands more united and shows more fight. This assessment comes as Leverkusen sits fifth in the table with seven points from four games. The record shows two wins, one draw and one defeat.
Looking at the current situation
The Werkself's recent results read two wins, one draw and two losses. After a 1-2 home defeat to Augsburg came a 0-2 loss to Bayern Munich. Then followed a 2-1 away win in Cologne and a 4-1 home victory against RB Leipzig, before most recently a 1-3 defeat in Stuttgart. The last match ended 1-1 against Hamburger SV.
Top scorer this season is Patrik Schick with four goals in four appearances. The team faces FSV Mainz 05 in their next match on October 10th, with Mainz currently in sixth place. The last meeting between the two sides ended 1-1 in February.
Squad situation and outlook
The squad is currently missing Guéla Doué, Kennet Eichhorn, Montrell Culbreath and Nathan Tella. Their returns are scheduled for the coming weeks. The injury list and further squad information can be found at injuries.
Diaby's visit and his words come during a period of self-assessment for the club. Trailing leaders Borussia Dortmund by five points, the season remains completely open. The changed mentality the former player speaks of must prove itself in the coming demanding fixtures. The away match in Mainz on October 10th is the next test.
Further reading: Bild Sport
