Kai Havertz Returns to Leverkusen: A Homecoming in the Champions League
Arsenal star Kai Havertz (26) made a poignant return to Leverkusen on Tuesday evening, a city where he first blossomed into a world-class talent. For a decade, Havertz graced the pitch for Bayer Leverkusen before his move to Chelsea in September 2020. Now, with Arsenal, he faces his former club in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16 on Wednesday (6:45 PM GMT/DAZN).
Havertz entered the press room at the BayArena on Tuesday evening, his expression revealing a mix of emotions. “It’s wonderful to be back at my childhood club,” he shared. “I’ve already seen some familiar faces.” Among them was Slawomir Czarniecki (46), his first youth coach at Bayer, and head of performance for the U16 to U19 teams. “Walking through the door felt like yesterday,” Havertz reminisced.
Overcoming Adversity: Havertz on His Injury Struggles
Havertz’s 14-minute press conference was deeply emotional. Beyond the joy of returning, he openly discussed his recent health challenges, having endured three consecutive injuries in the past year. “Sometimes, that’s just how football is,” he admitted. “I’ve never faced such a difficult challenge before.”
A particularly severe knee injury sidelined him for over four months. “It was tough for me because I’d never felt pain like that in my life – and it came so suddenly,” he explained. “I received a lot of support at home – my family helped me a lot. Of course, two surgeries back-to-back aren’t easy.”
Looking Forward with Arsenal and Reflecting on Leverkusen’s Growth
Six years after his departure, Kai Havertz returns to Leverkusen for the first time. He remains focused on the future: “I’m professional enough to know that these things happen in football. I’m still young and hope to have many years ahead of me. I’m 100% fit and ready. I’ve missed the feeling of being on the pitch with the guys. That’s why it was mentally tough. I’m all the more happy to be back. I want to be a threat in the box again and help my team.” His family will be in the stands, and he jokingly noted he expected more ticket requests.
Bayer Leverkusen’s Sporting Director, Simon Rolfes (44), acknowledged Havertz’s significance to the club’s history. “It’s great to have Kai back here. We’ve always stayed in touch. He was and is an outstanding part of Bayer 04’s history. When he left, we were a club playing in the Europa League. Now, we’re in the Champions League Round of 16 for the second consecutive time. The fact that we’re meeting Kai in the last 16 speaks to our development since his departure.”
Rolfes has repeatedly stated that the sale of Havertz enabled Leverkusen to build a championship-winning team. Havertz humbly responded, “I’m honored that Simon said that. We’ve talked about it. But I don’t take any credit. The success belongs to the team that achieved it two years ago. We couldn’t win a title in my time. I knew how much the club longed for it. I was happy for Bayer 04. But now, only the game matters, and I’m here to win. I know how difficult it is to beat Leverkusen at home.”
Arteta’s Relief and Havertz’s Renewed Confidence
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta (43) expressed relief at having his star attacker back to full fitness. “He’s had three weeks of complete consistency – in training, in preparation, and in the minutes he’s played. We’ll continue like that because we know how much it affects him. His injury record was previously spotless – he’d never had a major injury. Over a career of 15, 20 years, you’ll experience moments like these. If there’s someone who combines humility, patience, a love for the game, and this competitive spirit, it’s him. Now, Kai needs to enjoy being back on the pitch – and tackle the rest of the season.”
Source: BILD
