Mark Flekken Discusses Building Defensive Chemistry at Bayer Leverkusen

omidbasir- In an exclusive interview with GGFN, Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Mark Flekken shared insights on cultivating chemistry with his defensive line.

Leverkusen recently secured a 2-0 victory against Manchester City, marked by a stellar defensive effort from the trio of Jarell Quansah, Loïc Bade, and Jeanuel Belocian, alongside Flekken himself, who made nine crucial saves and earned the Player of the Match title, according to FotMob.

Despite the impressive performance, Flekken noted that many players are new to the team, which means building confidence and chemistry between the goalkeeper and the defense requires time.

When asked by GGFN whether having a strong defense boosts his confidence, Flekken replied, “Definitely. But the same goes for the defense. If they know they have a goalkeeper who can handle the occasional shot that manages to get through, those connections must develop over time. As I mentioned earlier, time is essential. However, it’s not always guaranteed, so patience, hard work, and familiarity with one another are critical. Achieving this as quickly as possible is ideal, but it doesn’t always go as planned. So yes, patience is key—patience and hard work.”

Like many of his teammates at Leverkusen, Flekken, who previously played for Freiburg and Duisburg, has faced challenges since joining the BayArena. Nonetheless, his recent performances have been pivotal for die Werkself, contributing not only against City but also in securing three points against Wolfsburg last weekend.

As Bayer Leverkusen prepares to host Borussia Dortmund in their upcoming league match, the 32-year-old goalkeeper will need to bring his best to the pitch.