Bundesliga News

Kerem Demirbay opens up on difficult start to life at Leverkusen

By Henrik Petersen

Kerem Demirbay insists he feels 'very comfortable' at Leverkusen despite experiencing a somewhat bumpy start to life at BayArena.
Kerem Demirbay.
Kerem Demirbay.Photo: Bayer 04 Leverkusen
Kerem Demirbay feels he's on the right path despite experiencing a difficult start to life at Bayer Leverkusen following his summer move from Hoffenheim.


The 26-year-old has had to settle for the bench a couple of times this season and often gets substituted in the latter stages of games when he's in the line-up.

And while Demirbay admits that he's used to playing more, he makes it clear that he feels very well at BayArena.

"To be honest, I would probably find it hard to cope with this situation if our coaching team weren't in so close dialogue with me, because this feeling of not playing all the time is unfamiliar to me. But if you have a boss, a coach, who is honest and always communicating, you know where you stand. I feel very comfortable here," he told Kicker.

Bayer Leverkusen broke their transfer record when they paid €32 million to sign Demirbay from Hoffenheim in the summer, but the midfielder insists that doesn't make him feel under extra pressure.

"That doesn't matter to me as a person. I don't feel under any pressure. That comes from the media, and I don't concern myself with that. The pressure arises when a club spends a lot of money. But with all respect, that wouldn't happen if the club felt the player wasn't capable of anything. There may be a lot of pressure from the outside, but the club and I won't let it in."

Demirbay has made 15 appearances for Leverkusen so far, making two assists.


More about Kerem Demirbay

More about Leverkusen

Bundesliga News

Fantasy Football

Tactics Talk

Editor's picks

Profiles

Turn back time