Hofmann fired up to win back Leverkusen starting spot under ten Hag | OneFootball

Jonas Hofmann went from being a key figure in Bayer Leverkusen’s historic double-winning 2023/24 season to spending most of the past campaign on the bench.

But rather than looking for a way away from BayArena, the 32-year-old is determined to fight for his place under new head coach Erik ten Hag.

“Despite the difficult situation, I always felt the support of the fans,” Hofmann told Bild.

“I want to start pre-season in top shape, so I’ve hired a personal trainer to work with me throughout the entire summer break.

“I definitely want to establish myself at Bayer and become a regular starter again.”

Hofmann featured for just 651 minutes in all competitions during the 2024/25 season - a disappointing figure for the former Gladbach midfielder.

He previously hinted that he never received a clear explanation from now-departed coach Xabi Alonso.

“No kid playing football dreams of making money by sitting on the bench,” he said in April.

“You have to try to stay professional and mentally strong. That’s the biggest challenge during phases like that.”