Tayfun Korkut is well aware of the difficulty of the remaining fixtures, as VfB prepare to face three "top-class" opponents in Leverkusen, Hoffenheim and Bayern Munich. "We continue to concentrate on the tasks ahead game-by-game and from minute-to-minute. Nothing will change there. That’s exactly what has put us where we are now. We want to win – that’s just how we will be going about the next game."
In Leverkusen, the Cannstatt Boys will be required to "repeat the maximum performance levels from the past eleven weeks". Team coherence, reliability and consistency, as well as a good balance between a determined attack and a stable defence, remain the plan of action for the Wasenelf. "That stands above all else." VfB will be facing "unbelievable individual quality". Bayer possess an "offensive department with many top players and talented youngsters, who can be surprising on the ball and decide a game with one penetrating action".
On Saturday (18:30 CEST), Tayfun Korkut will be faced for the first time by a former employer, where he experienced "a very intensive time" last season. The 44-year-old knows “where to draw the lines”, regardless of how well he knows the opposition. Another VfB man who is particularly familiar with Leverkusen is Michael Reschke. The VfB Sporting Director began his professional football career in Leverkusen, subsequently spending almost 40 years at Bayer 04.
End the season on the best possible note
The compliment the head coach paid his team following the 2-0 win over Bremen, and thus also their status in the top-flight for the coming season, was repeated on Thursday: "When you cross the finish-line, especially in the manner in which we did it, there is naturally an element of relief. The team were unconditionally behind the idea. Now there are still points at stake and now we intend to end the reason reputably and on the best possible note."
Timo Baumgartl beginning at right-back
On Thursday, the VfB coach touched on the likelihood of Timo Baumgartl beginning at right full-back this weekend. The 22-year-old trained central-defender "can get down the wing, cover plenty of ground and delivery decent crosses," argued Tayfun Korkut as reasons for Baumgartl filling the gap left by the injury-forced absence of Andreas Beck. Otherwise, the coach is spoiled for choice, but is eager to maintain "good organisation and order". The coach added: "There’ll be no altering our game-plan. Why should we begin experimenting when the displays are good?" The fact that VfB captain Christian Gentner and striker Daniel Ginczek did not complete team training on Wednesday is "no cause for concern – just normal individual training supervision".