Why Malik Tillman can emulate Florian Wirtz's success for Bayer Leverkusen
After a bumpy start to his Bayer Leverkusen career, defined by an early injury and a managerial change, Malik Tillman is slowly finding his feet as he looks to fill the boots left by Florian Wirtz.
Having recovered from a calf injury that saw him miss what was left of a short pre-season after representing his country at this summer’s Gold Cup, Tillman was thrown in from the start on Matchday 2 against Werder Bremen.
And he got off to a scoring start too, putting his side two goals up in what appeared to be a strong response to their loss against Hoffenheim. Things didn't go as planned, however, with Tillman’s departure at the hour mark preceding a chaotic final thirty minutes that saw 10-man Bremen scrape a 3-3 draw at the death.
Watch: Tillman's first goal for Leverkusen
Having put another hour under his belt in their 3-1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt the following week, he was then back on the scoresheet on Matchday 4 against Borussia Mönchengladbach, although Leverkusen could only manage a point.
Much like Leverkusen, Tillman understandably lacked rhythm in those early games. In a new-look squad stacked full of faces that also only arrived in the summer, the dynamic midfielder has had to form new on-field partnerships without the luxury of a pre-season behind him.
Furthermore, new coach Kasper Hjulmand, who has spoken glowingly about the former PSV Eindhoven man, only arrived at the club after their collapse against Bremen.
Watch: Bayer Leverkusen 3-1 Eintracht Frankfurt
"We know Malik. He has quality. Like everyone else, he needs time to adapt to the other players," said Hjulmand. "He works every day to reach the level he's capable of – and we know he has."
Tillman is equally desperate to get back to his best, despite already showing signs of his brilliance.
"I know I can do more and I have to do more," said the 23-year-old. "I want to be more involved in the overall build-up play; I want to become a goal threat."
Two goals in his first four Bundesliga games, having only recently returned to fitness, is evidence that the player that scored 12 in 26 last season in the Dutch Eredivisie is ready to burst into life.
It’s not only his goals that prove he’s heading in the right direction, either. In addition to his goal, he ran 7.6 miles (12.2 km) against Gladbach, only second to Yannik Engelhardt who edged him with 7.7 (12.4). Having impressed both on and off the ball in what were his first 90 minutes for the club, he then won the joint-most duels (14) in the Werkself’s 2-1 win over St. Pauli on Matchday 5.
Watch: St. Pauli 1-2 Bayer Leverkusen
However, the number that many people, including Tillman, may be focusing on is the 10 on the back of his shirt.
The Bayern Munich academy graduate picked up the number following Wirtz's departure to Liverpool - big boots to fill.
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