Bayer Leverkusen’s rivalry with Bayern Munich on the pitch has cooled down, but off it there’s still plenty of tension.
Leverkusen are the only side to have dethroned Bayern as Bundesliga champions in the last 14 years and did so with an unbeaten domestic double in the 2023/24 season.
Since then their squad has been gutted and Xabi Alonso said goodbye, leading Leverkusen to rebuild with youth and future promise.
Yet for CEO Fernando Carro, the rivalry is still alive and well, particularly due to their home-reared Florian Wirtz.
Wirtz ended up leaving Leverkusen for Liverpool in the summer, but not after a lengthy and public pursuit from Bayern.
“That kind of behaviour is simply unacceptable,” Carro reflected.
“I was more surprised than bothered by their public aggression.”
As such, the tension remains, with Carro saying he’d never join Bayern, nor would supervisor Rudi Voller nor sporting director Simon Rolfes.
“I’m a Leverkusen man,” Carro said.
“Rudi didn’t do it, Simon didn’t do it. Even though they had the offers. That’s what I hear.”
Despite the dislike, Carro did admit an admiration for Bayern’s winning mentality.
“The club’s internal culture is so ingrained that they’re used to winning,” he confessed.
“That might make winning easier. I think it’s this certain arrogance or self-confidence that such clubs have.
“They’ve done a fantastic job. Everyone. Herbert Hainer , Uli Hoeneß, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, they’re all doing a fantastic job.”
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