After missing Bayer Leverkusen’s last five matches in all competitions due to an ankle injury, Florian Wirtz is set to make his return on Saturday in the Bundesliga clash with Union Berlin.
“He’s ready. He’s fit. He’s in the squad. He can play—from the start, too. That’s very good,” said Leverkusen head coach Xabi Alonso at Friday’s press conference, at which he also confirmed that defender Edmond Tapsoba is fully fit again.
Leverkusen have struggled in Wirtz’s absence, recently crashing out of the DFB-Pokal with a shock 2-1 defeat to 3. Liga side Arminia Bielefeld and only narrowly edging Heidenheim 1-0 in the Bundesliga.
When asked about Wirtz’s importance to the team, Alonso was clear:
“I’ve always said that we are clearly a better team with Florian. We play better, with better connections between the lines. Flo is our difference-maker - we need him. Of course, we missed him, especially in the Champions League and the cup. But that (Wirtz's injury) can happen over the course of a season.
"Now we have him back. We’re happy he’s here again and we want to help him play well, so that he has fun on the pitch. Normally, we play better (than recently), and now we need to rediscover that flow. A big challenge awaits us against a strong, well-organized team."
