Leverkusen hosts Leipzig as UCL push continues
Kasper Hjulmand said fire, focus and intensity would be key in Bayer Leverkusen's final four Bundesliga matches in its quest to secure UEFA Champions League football next season.
Leverkusen is two points adrift of the UEFA Champions League places ahead of welcoming RB Leipzig, which is third on the table, to BayArena this Sunday (AEST).
Should Ole Werner's side make it six wins in a row in the top flight, it will secure its spot in UEFA's flagship competition for the seventh consecutive campaign.
But Leverkusen will be out to improve its own UEFA Champions League hopes, although a spot in Europe is already confirmed after building a 12-point gap to seventh-placed Eintracht Frankfurt, but the competition it will be competing in is yet to be determined.
"We have three games left to achieve our [UEFA] Champions League target," Hjulmand said.
"We all have a shared responsibility for the fire, the focus and the intensity on the pitch.
"Whether it's for one minute or 90, we have to go all out and give our best for ourselves, the club and the fans. And do it every day, in games and training sessions."
Leverkusen followed up its semi-final exit in the DFB-Pokal against Bayern Munich by beating FC Koln 2-1 away from home in the league, with Patrik Schick's quickfire brace the difference.
However, it is during the evening kick-offs that Leverkusen has struggled, losing three of those matches under Hjulmand.
That is more defeats than in its previous 18 such encounters under Xabi Alonso, Gerardo Seoane, and Hannes Wolf combined.
"We have a philosophy," Hjulmand said when asked about what he wants to see from his Leverkusen players in the later kick-off.
"Before the tactical and match content, it is always important to me that the players show the right mentality, body language, intensity and sharpness. Those are the basics.
"That always has to be there. And then there are tactical options in the game."
But Hjulmand was wary of the threat Leipzig possesses given its recent run of form, although he remained focused solely on his own team.
"Leipzig are in good form," the Leverkusen boss added. "They're a great team who are fast in transition and play good football.
"But our aim, as always, is to play our own game. It will be an open game, a close game."
