Fernando Carro de Prada’s Post

Late May 2025. Time for a short wrap up, right !?    Looking back at last season, it’s clear how far we’ve come - and how high the bar of expectations has been raised. Not so long ago, securing a Champions League spot was a major milestone for Bayer 04 Leverkusen.    This year, we played our third best Bundesliga season ever, finishing second in the table with 69 points and only three defeats. We reached the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the first time in eight years. We secured the all-time record in unbeaten away games in the Bundesliga (34), with our last defeat dating back to May 2023. Amazing figures for a club like Bayer 04 Leverkusen, actually.     Still, we don’t feel satisfied, neither me nor my colleague Simon Rolfes. That’s the development we went through in recent years. We want to reach for more, every year and in every competition. I like how this new environment of expectations in and around the club has evolved - of course with a great contribution of Xabi Alonso.    Now, the challenge will be to aim for maximum success again. We’re entering a new era: hiring a new head coach, making changes in the squad. Those transitions are never easy. But at the same time, these crucial periods thrive and motivate us. Now we have the chance to build a foundation for another successful stretch of this club.    We’ve started shaping a new squad, focusing on the development of a winning mentality and high quality skills. This is going to be a fresh chapter, and I’m all in. I’m buzzing with energy and ambition to push us forward.    Take care, Fernando