Schmidt's future in Leverkusen uncertain

The top Bundesliga match against Borussia Dortmund this Saturday could be the last chance for Bayer Leverkusen's coach Roger Schmidt to secure his job. Mistrust in the 49-year-old coach' s work has grown amongst club officials like the former German international Rudi Voeller as the team is almost certain to be knocked out of the Champions League and has only little chance of qualifying for the competition next year.

Leverkusen and Schmidt find themselves only in eighth position in the league, ten points behind their upcoming opponent having been highly inconsistent this season. Latest rumors speak about club plans to stick with the coach until the end of the season and then try a new start with somebody else even though the present incumbent's contract runs another year.

In doing so Leverkusen's officials are basically agreeing to write off this season in order to be prepared for the next. There seems to be a lack of appropriate successors at the moment.

Leverkusen's league problems suggest something is wrong and that there are fundamental, collective deficiencies. Pundits and fans see a team whose development seems to be going backwards in Schmidt's third year. They have only won nine games - ten other matches ended in defeat.

While Leverkusen's coach has managed to develop young talents such as Juilan Brandt, Benjamin Henrichs and 17-year-old Kai Havertz, his tactical approach is under fire. Despite their best squad for years, their one-dimensional pressing game appears antiquated compared to the more structured work done by Ralph Hasenhuettl at Leipzig and Julian Nagelsmann in Hoffenheim. Both teams have less quality to boot.

Having qualified regularly for the Champions League, Leverkusen had established itself as the nation's third best club. Therefore neither relegation nor a sloppy also-ran status is accepted.

The impression is the young team with an age-average below 24 has lost its trust in their coach. It is a football rule, that a team only follows its coach if it believes he will help to improve their performance. The club now fears they will lose contact to the top as Leipzig and Hoffenheim are occupying the space behind German top dogs Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund.

To be no longer active on the European stage, at present Bayern wouldn't even qualify for the Euro League, would not hurt the ambitious club too much over a short space of time, but it would threaten their unique selling point. For years Leverkusen has been attractive to top international youngsters as the club provides a springboard to greater things. A mid table club would no longer be interesting.

Leverkusen at the same time runs the risk of losing its niche situated in one of the most populated areas of Germany containing many clubs with a long tradition and football mad fans. It also has to counter its image of being an artificial side as it is run by Bayer, the chemical company.

Head coach Schmidt is regarded both as one of the most talented coaches in Germany and one that is not easy to deal with. The 49-year old has often been in trouble with the referee and the fourth official.

He once refused to leave the bench and take a seat in the stands after constantly arguing with the referees, Schmidt was also banned by the German association for several games. In order to give him more support the club has employed an assistant to help him calm down in difficult situations.

Schmidt is blamed for taking too much tactical risk as his team often storms forward neglecting a shoring up the defense. He also seems to demand too much from his young team. A dangerous gap has opened up, not only between the club officials and the team but also between coach and fans as the team's performances are not meeting expectations.

Recently Schmidt increased doubts about his job in an interview that caused a stir amongst his bosses. By saying, "Many seem to look forward to announce my demission. But who cares? I can live without football," he seems to have increased speculation about his future.

For the time being Leverkusen's Director of Sport Rudi Voeller seems to be determined to finish the season with Schmidt in the best way possible. But another defeat will spark more debate about the coach's tenure at the helm. Endit