After knocking Arsenal out of the Champions League, Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blasovich called on his teammates to go all out in their bid to finish in the Bundesliga’s top four.
The goalkeeper was outstanding in London but the Premier League leaders won 2-0 in the last 16 and 3-1 on aggregate.
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Leverkusen are sixth in the Bundesliga and their defeat on Tuesday will not help the German side’s bid for a fifth Champions League spot next season given UEFA’s coefficient system.
With eight games remaining in the Bundesliga, the top four are now in focus. Werkself are five points behind fourth-placed Stuttgart.
“Heidenheim is now very, very important at the weekend,” Blasovich told reporters as he looked ahead to Saturday’s away game. “We just have to score points. We have to perform well on the pitch.”
Although Leverkusen will also play in the DFB-Pokal semi-finals next month against Bundesliga leaders Bayern Munich, he said the league is now “the most important thing”.
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Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice scored fine goals in each half for Arsenal, while Leverkusen failed to really threaten.
“I think Arsenal are a different team than in the first leg – more aggressive, more threatening in front of goal,” Blasovich said.
“It has to be said that we didn’t perform well in the first leg either. This is definitely a game where I have more to do and show what I can do.”
Despite Blasovich’s convincing performance against Arsenal, his ability to stay in goal at Heidenheim is still up in the air.
Main goalkeeper Mark Flecken returns from injury.
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“I asked the wrong question,” Blasovich said when asked what he thought about the hierarchy. “I just try my best. The coach has to decide what happens.”
Leverkusen coach Kasper Hulmand announced that a decision will be made in the coming days.