Andrich still has space for more trophy tattoos

While there was cautious optimism in August 2023 with Xabi Alonso at the helm and a strong transfer window behind them, few would have expected Leverkusen to embark on a procession to the title. However, they ended up clinching the club’s maiden Meisterschale with an 18-point buffer, becoming the first team to go an entire Bundesliga campaign unbeaten in the process.

Not only that, but they also completed the double with a 1-0 DFB Cup final victory over Kaiserslautern, making the 3-0 defeat to Atalanta in the UEFA Europa League final their only loss in all competitions. Although there was disappointment that Die Werkself did not get their hands on an unprecedented treble, they still created history.

And, to celebrate, Andrich – who scored six goals in 45 appearances throughout the season – added to his already impressive collection of tattoos by immortalising his first two pieces of major silverware on his left calf. It seems he is eager for more, too.

“There were always jokes about whether I’d get a tattoo of the Meisterschale,” he told bundesliga.com. “I haven’t won many trophies before. I think the Bundesliga is a special one, so I really wanted one of that. And the DFB Cup was a bit of a bonus. But there’d definitely be space for a few more.”

Given how they strolled to last year’s top spot, Leverkusen enter the 2024/25 term as one of the favourites for the title. However, Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have boosted their squad with reinforcements, while VfB Stuttgart will be looking to back up their own fantastic performances under Sebastian Hoeneß last season. The rest of the division is also now well aware of Leverkusen’s threat, and the reigning champions will have a target on their backs.

As such, Andrich acknowledges his team's need to be flexible. “I think we all know that every club knows this year what Leverkusen did last year and how we played, so they will think about what they want to do against us. So, we need to be variable."

Watch: Analysing champions Bayer Leverkusen

“I think we saw last season, when it was clear that we’re so dominant and that we look to play against every opponent, that they tried to play differently against us than they normally would. We need solutions there and need variations. And we’ll have those from the start this year. So, it’ll be important to work on that variability from the start, to practice it. We’ve started there and need to implement it from the start.”

Leverkusen will kick off the defence of their Bundesliga title with a trip to Borussia Mönchengladbach, but before that, there is the small matter of the Supercup. Andrich and Co. will play last term’s runners-up Stuttgart, and the 29-year-old midfielder knows how important it is to get off to the best possible start and build momentum.

“It’s the season’s first final. Like I said, I haven’t won many trophies, so I want to win it for the first time. Then you’ve got a good feeling for starting the league campaign. It’s true you need a good start. I think the first five to 10 games are very important in the Bundesliga, and then also restarting after the winter break. That’s an important time.”

Watch: Andrich and Leverkusen target Supercup honour

Of course, Leverkusen was not Andrich’s only focus during the summer break. The former Union Berlin man was part of Julian Nagelsmann’s 26-man squad for UEFA Euro 2024 on home soil, and he started all but one match as Spain narrowly beat a rejuvenated Germany in extra-time of their quarter-final.

After starting each of the previous eight international matches, Andrich was named on the bench for that clash against the eventual champions — something he describes as “obviously not easy.” However, he was eager to concentrate on the positives of a campaign that saw the German public reconnect with the national team.

“People saw a lot of us from inside the camp, also away from football, and you saw what was coming together again, saw that people liked going to watch Germany again in stadiums, in public viewing parks, liked pulling out flags again, which hadn’t been the case for a long time.”

Now, though, after a family holiday in Italy with Joshua Kimmich, Leverkusen is back at the forefront of Andrich’s mind, and it seems he and the rest of Alonso’s squad are raring to go. “We’re going about things like we did last year in terms of looking to play our way consistently, that we stick together in tough times, that we don’t lose our heads, that we know what makes us strong, but also that we know what we need – i.e. the basics – for success and then to play compete again.”

Watch: The best of Robert Andrich

One thing’s for sure: if the champions and Andrich return anywhere close to the form that saw them dispatch all before them just a few months ago, they will once again be the team beat.