Bayer Leverkusen's Hjulmand receives backing ahead of crucial Rhine derby
Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has publicly backed under-pressure head coach Kasper Hjulmand, confirming the Dane will remain in charge for the remainder of the season. The vote of confidence, reported by Sky, comes after Leverkusen were eliminated from the DFB-Pokal semi-finals by Bayern Munich and amidst ongoing speculation over Hjulmand's future. His contract runs until 2027.
Rolfes swiftly shifted focus to the club's primary remaining objective: securing Champions League qualification via the Bundesliga. Leverkusen currently sit sixth in the table, needing victories in their final four matches, starting with Saturday's Rhine derby against 1. FC Köln. "I am firmly convinced that we have the possibility of qualifying for the Champions League if we win the games," Rolfes said, according to the report.
The endorsement follows a difficult first season for Hjulmand, who took over last summer following a significant squad overhaul. The 0-2 cup defeat to Bayern marked the end of Leverkusen's last chance for silverware this campaign, intensifying scrutiny on the manager's position. After the match, Bayern coach Vincent Kompany offered unexpected praise for Leverkusen's second-half performance, stating what the team achieved was "very good" and had not been managed by many sides this season.
Hjulmand himself acknowledged the challenging season but insisted the project is on track. "We have great potential in this club with this team," he said, urging perspective on the broader rebuild. The immediate task is to rally his squad for the derby against a Köln side fighting to secure its Bundesliga status, a match historically fraught with high emotion and occasional fan disorder.
The derby carries extra weight given a controversial meeting in December, which saw around 500 Köln fans leave the BayArena before kick-off due to strict entry controls. Police have classified the upcoming fixture as a high-risk game. Leverkusen supporters demonstrated continued backing ahead of the Bayern match with a pyro display, a sentiment the team will need to channel on the pitch. For Hjulmand, the coming weeks represent a critical audition to prove he is the right man to lead Leverkusen's stated project, with Champions League football the minimum requirement to solidify his position beyond this summer.
