Leverkusen striker Schick dismisses team's title chances after Xhaka becomes latest to leave

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.

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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)

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Kyle Connor scored twice and the Winnipeg Jets overcame an early deficit to beat the Columbus 2-1 on Saturday night, keeping their playoff hopes alive and sending the Blue Jackets to their sixth straight loss.

Winnipeg moved to 78 points, a point out of the final wild-card spot in the crowded Western Conference.

Connor tied it with 1:46 left in the second period, and scored the winner with 9:02 left in the third. He has 36 goals this season. Mark Scheifele had his 59th and 60th assists, and Connor Hellebuyck made 15 saves.

Ivan Provorov scored for Columbus, which has lost four straight at home and remains outside the Eastern Conference wild-card picture. Jet Greaves stopped 23 shots.

Provorov scored on Columbus’ first shot 1:17 into the game. It was the Blue Jackets’ 57th goal by a defenseman this season, a franchise record.

Columbus then went more than 25 minutes without another shot as Winnipeg took control.

Jets: Host Seattle on Monday night.

Blue Jackets: At Detroit on Tuesday night.

Columbus Blue Jackets coach Rick Bowness, center top, looks on during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Winnipeg Jets in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck, left, stops a shot in front of Columbus Blue Jackets forward Adam Fantilli and Jets forward Mark Scheifele during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Columbus Blue Jackets goalie Jet Greaves, left, stops a shot in front of Winnipeg Jets forward Alex Iafallo during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Columbus Blue Jackets forward Kirill Marchenko (86) reaches for the puck in front of Winnipeg Jets forward Cole Perfetti (91) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)

Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor, left, celebrates with teammate forward Mark Scheifele after Conner's goal against the Columbus Blue Jackets during the third period of an NHL hockey game in Columbus, Ohio, Saturday, April 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Paul Vernon)