While Inter Milan, PSV Eindhoven and Real Madrid all look like champions-elect in their respective leagues, we are just over 24 hours away from a fitting conclusion to a remarkable campaign from a club who – unlike the aforementioned trio – were nobody’s favourites for the title back in August.
Bayern Munich’s decade of dominance is over, and in some style too. Bayer Leverkusen have snatched the crown of their heads, kicking Thomas Tuchel out of his throne.
Xabi Alonso’s team have never won the Bundesliga before but that will change with a win at home to Werder Bremen on Sunday.
Call them ‘Neverkusen’. Call them the perennial bridesmaids. This is Leverkusen’s turn to wear white and walk down the aisle at last.
Former Manchester United man will lift title on Sunday
Those celebrations may feel a little bittersweet, however, for one member of Alonso’s squad. Timothy Fosu-Mensah has not even touched silverware since winning the FA Cup and the Community Shield under Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho at Manchester United back in 2016.
Or, then again, maybe not. Look up any recent pictures of Leverkusen’s jubilant players and you’ll often see Fosu-Mensah front and centre in the celebrations.
He certainly won’t have any reservations about getting his mitts on the Bundesliga shield, even if the Dutchman hasn’t quite played the role he would have liked during a sensational campaign alongside former Liverpool, Bayern and Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso.
Fosu-Mensah won’t get Bundesliga medal
Fosu-Mensah, due to a combination of injuries and the stellar form of Jeremie Frimpong, has not played even a single minute of league football in 2023/24. He’s been included in Alonso’s matchday squad on just seven occasions.
Now, only players who have featured in five or more matches are eligible to take home a league winners’ medal in Germany (SportsStar). As a result, unless Fosu-Mensah features in the vast majority of Bayer’s final six fixtures, he will not have anything material to show from his involvement in a campaign that will go down in legend in Leverkusen.
Another former Man United full-back will, however, receive another piece of silverware to add to his enviable medal collection sooner rather than later. Inter Milan, 14 points clear in Serie A compared to Leverkusen’s 16 in the Bundesliga, are just two wins away from sealing the Scudetto.
And, in contrast to the frustrations of Fosu-Mensah, Matteo Darmian remains a valuable part of this exceptional Inter roster even at the age of 34.
“Winning is the only way to be remembered,” Darmian smiles. “Winning the second Scudetto star would be something extraordinary.”
“I hope to continue wearing this shirt for future years, for me they’re like a second family. The time to stop will come, I haven’t thought about my post-football career yet. I’d like to stay in this world, but don’t ask me to do any coaching today.
“Will Inter be the last club of my career? It’d be nice, I don’t know what’ll happen in the next few years, but it’s a dream.”