Florian Wirtz will not return until next year

National player Florian Wirtz will also be absent from the Bayer Leverkusen squad for the last Bundesliga game of the year. This was announced by coach Xabi Alonso at the press conference before the duel with VfB Stuttgart (Saturday, 3.30 p.m.).

“It’s still too early,” said Alonso about the 19-year-old, who suffered a cruciate ligament rupture in March and was traded as a World Cup candidate until the very end.

“Now we have plenty of time for him. Hopefully he will be there in January,” added his club coach. Wirtz will accompany the team for two test matches in the USA next week, but he will be there “only for training”, said Alonso.

Bayer still have to do without midfielder Charles Aranguiz and center forward Patrik Schick against VfB.

After two wins in a row, Leverkusen has gained some air in the table basement. Nevertheless, Alonso called for maximum concentration. The performance in the first half at local rivals 1. FC Köln (2-1) was “not good at all”. “We mustn’t make mistakes like that again,” explained the Spanish world and European champions: “We have to be very alert and active. It’s the most important game for us. We want to be as high up in the table as possible.”