Bayer aims to compete with Bayern season after season.

The FDA Cup's concluding match-up is imminent. - Changing image: Bayer plans to compete head-to-head with Bayern long-term

As soon as Bayer Leverkusen's party marathon started following their double win, the bosses and players of the club were already planning for the next season. Now that the decade-old title curse, which included the "Vizekusen" commercial, has been lifted, the Werkself aims to establish itself as a top team and rival to FC Bayern Munich.

"We have shattered the image of Bayer always being considered a second-rate team," said Head of Sport and former player Simon Rolfes, who played for Leverkusen without a title from 2005 to 2015. Their task now is to maintain this new public perception. "I didn't come here just to win a championship for a year," said the last-minute goalscorer Granit Xhaka after their 1-0 win over second-division side 1. FC Kaiserslautern in the DFB Cup final. And he said this with great intention while he was on his way to the grand cup event at the "Club Theater Berlin" with around 1000 guests. Coach Xabi Alonso explained, "I have the desire to continue on this path and create something new from Monday."

Standing up to Bayern

There was a lot of partying to be done. After a short night that some of the players spent in Berlin clubs, the team arrived at Cologne/Bonn Airport at 2:00 pm, about an hour late. North Rhine-Westphalia's Minister President Hendrik Wüst greeted them on the tarmac. Captain Lukas Hradecky held the DFB Cup, but admitted that he "didn't know where he had spent the night. Today I'm looking after him." After the signing in the Golden Book of the city of 160,000 residents, a motorcade led to a final celebration with 40,000 fans at the stadium. Tickets for the event sold out quickly.

Inspired by Club President Fernando Carro's bold goal-setting in public, the entire club now follows this approach after this historic season. "We are very happy, but this is not the end," said Carro: "We have to continue at this level. And we will." Naturally, FC Bayern Munich, the undisputed champions with an impressive eleven-year reign, are "the most successful team in Germany in terms of history." However, they want "to at least be able to compete against them."

And Alonso didn't just talk the talk, he walked the walk as well. "The goal is always to be at the top," he said. "The goal is to finish in the top of the Bundesliga, go as far as possible in the cup, and also prove in the Champions League that Bayer Leverkusen is at the top level."

Xhaka wants "to attack in the Champions League"

Xhaka took it a step further. "Let's attack in the Champions League next year," he said with a mischievous smile, leaving it open how far this attack should go. Xhaka had a clear message for the domestic competition. "We will do everything possible to defend our titles. We want to carry on in the same way next year. We will lose games from time to time, we won't go 51 games undefeated again next year. But we want to attack." What does it take to establish ourselves permanently at the top? "Hunger and mentality - the club knows everything else."

The optimism was fueled by the special circumstances of the season, in which Bayer won more titles than ever before in their 119-year history. And they didn't win these titles just because of Bayern's weakness, who scored more points than the previous year. Instead, it was due to their own strength, which at times put pressure on Munich. They were the first team to remain unbeaten for an entire season in league history. And they also reached the Europa League final, where they suffered their only defeat in 53 competitive matches against Atalanta Bergamo.

Alonso wanted "German beer" instead of Spanish red wine

All they missed out on during this incredible ride through the three competitions, they made up for on Saturday evening: the celebrations! "Of course," said Alonso with a knowing smile shortly after the game. And he didn't want any Spanish red wine: "Tonight I'm drinking German beer." The barley juice had already started flowing in the dressing room, said captain Lukas Hradecky, "and champagne and everything that goes with it."

Even though they had already secured their first league title in the club's history in mid-April, they had always remained focused. In the cup competitions, to make it to the finals. In the league, to complete the series. "We haven't really celebrated yet. Not the championship, nothing," said Rolfes. However, they can now let loose as much as they want. "Now they can finally enjoy it and let their hair down a bit." Carro emphasized, "Today we're celebrating until we can't take it anymore."

A lot has also changed in the surrounding area.

The celebration at Potsdamer Platz in the capital, where the first players arrived at around 1:30 a.m. dressed in sunglasses, was just the start of an extensive program for the return of the city's 160,000 inhabitants on Sunday afternoon. The agenda included signing the city's Golden Book, a motorcade, and a final celebration with 40,000 fans in the stadium. The tickets for this event sold out quickly.

Not only did they challenge these stereotypes this season, but Leverkusen also proved they have supporters, a spirited atmosphere, and the ability to party. Though the 30,000 Bayer fans in Berlin faced difficulties against the significantly larger group of Palatinate fans in their impressive devil choreography, something significant has developed within and around the club. This is only the beginning.