LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen striker Patrik Schick says his team is not capable of fighting for the German Bundesliga title without new signings, after Granit Xhaka joined a string of title-winning players to leave the club.
Former Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is faced with an even bigger rebuild as Leverkusen's new coach after midfielder Xhaka joined English Premier League side Sunderland.
Attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, right back Jeremie Frimpong and defender Jonathan Tah — all crucial to Leverkusen's league and cup double in 2024 — left the club this off-season and coach Xabi Alonso departed for Real Madrid.
“The most important players have gone and that obviously hurts,” Schick, who was Leverkusen's top scorer last season with 27 goals in 45 games, told Sky Sport Germany in an interview released late Wednesday.
“Right now, we're hoping that we can still get a couple of good players in, because we're not currently in a position where we're capable of fighting for the title.”
Czech striker Schick said, as a forward, he'd most miss attacking midfielder Wirtz because “the quality that he has is very hard to find,” but that Xhaka is the biggest loss to the team as a whole.
“He was a leader,” Schick said. “He was the player with the most experience.”
The bulk of Leverkusen's off-season spending so far has gone on American attacking midfielder Malik Tillman from PSV Eindhoven and former Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah, while the club's also signed Brentford's highly-rated goalkeeper Mark Flekken.
Schick, however, picked out a lesser-known name as his most impressive signing of the summer. Ibrahim Maza, a 19-year-old midfielder signed from second-tier German club Hertha Berlin, is “really a good player,” he said.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Leverkusen's Granit Xhaka gestures during the Champions League opening phase soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Sparta Prague at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)
FILE - Leverkusen's Patrik Schick, right, celebrates his side's second goal during the German Bundesliga Soccer match between Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen in Frankfurt, Germany, Sunday, May 5, 2024, with teammate Granit Xhaka at left. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)
EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Ilya Sorokin made 35 saves for his NHL-leading fifth shutout of the season, Anthony Duclair scored the game's only goal in the third period on the power play and the New York Islanders edged the Edmonton Oilers 1-0 on Thursday night.
Duclair broke the deadlock with 6:18 remaining in the third period after Calum Ritchie sent a backhand pass to him. Mathew Barzal also assisted on the goal, giving him 500 career points in his 576th game over 10 NHL seasons.
Leon Draisaitl — whose tripping penalty put the Islanders on the power play for their goal — nearly tied it with just over 30 seconds left, but his shot in close hit off the far post to the right of Sorokin.
Connor McDavid, who would've had an assist if Draisaitl's shot went in, had his 20-game points streak end. He joined Wayne Gretzky and Paul Coffey as the only three players in Oilers franchise history to have a points streak of at least 20 games.
It was the 27th career shutout for Sorokin, extending his franchise record. It was the Islanders' first shutout in Edmonton since Billy Smith also stopped 35 shots in New York's 2-0 victory in Game 1 of the 1983 Stanley Cup Final.
The Islanders, who have won four of six overall, had lost their last six games in Edmonton, dating to 2017. They were 1-12-0 against the Oilers in Edmonton since the 2007-08 season.
Connor Ingram made 17 saves for the Oilers, who have dropped three of their last four.
Islanders: Play at Calgary on Saturday.
Oilers: Play at Vancouver on Saturday night.
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AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL
New York Islanders' Matthew Schaefer (48) takes a shot on net against the Edmonton Oilers during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)
Edmonton Oilers goalie Connor Ingram (39) makes a save against New York Islanders' Kyle MacLean (32) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Islanders' Anthony Duclair (11) celebrates with his teammates at the bench after a goal against the Edmonton Oilers during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Islanders' Ilya Sorokin (30) makes a save the against Edmonton Oilers during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)
New York Islanders' Calum Ritchie (64) checks Edmonton Oilers' Curtis Lazar (20) in front of Islanders' goalie Ilya Sorokin (30) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. (Timothy Matwey/The Canadian Press via AP)
