Ahead of the Bundesliga 5th round's upcoming marquee match against Bayern Munich, Leverkusen's Zaka gave an interview giving insight into the current state of the team, the upcoming challenges and his personal role.
First of all, Zaka reviewed the team's narrow 4-3 win over Wolfsburg last weekend and frankly pointed out the problems in the defensive end of the team. He emphasized that although the victory brought three valuable points, the team's loopholes in defense should not be ignored, especially when compared to last season, when the number of goals conceded this season is close to half of that of last season. According to Zaka, the key to defensive work lies in solid fundamentals and aggressive running, which is something the team must improve quickly.
Zaka expressed his full trust and support for coach Javi Alonso's criticism and guidance. He revealed that Alonso has a clear understanding of the team's performance and has taken targeted measures in training to remedy the deficiencies. Zaka believes that with the improvement in defense, the team will be able to continue to win matches as they have enough firepower on the offensive end.
Talking about the upcoming Bayern Munich battle, Zaka showed both respect and anticipation. He acknowledged that Bayern is a Champions League level opponent with a strong offense and solid defense. However, he also said that Leverkusen are well prepared and look forward to causing trouble for Bayern in the match. According to Zaka, although being Bayern's chasing target may bring extra pressure, the team has enough experience and strength to cope with such challenges.
In terms of his individual role, Zaka spoke about his competition and partner choice in the double back position. He said that competition is good for everyone and pushes them to be better. He does not have a particular preferred partner, but is willing to work with any of his teammates to contribute to the team's victory. Zaka believes that through constant communication and tacit cooperation, the four of them will be able to play a greater role in the back position.
Finally, Zaka looked at Leverkusen's goals for the season. He said that the team wants to stay at the top of the table for as long as possible and continue to take each game "one game at a time". He believes that as long as the team stays united and works hard, they will be able to achieve their goals.
