Bundesliga
Nathaniel Tella bemoans limited playing time at Bayer Leverkusen
By Saheed Afolabi
Nigeria winger Nathaniel Tella has expressed frustration over his limited playing time at Bayer Leverkusen this season, with the forward struggling to secure regular minutes on the pitch.
Tella has only featured in three appearances for the Bundesliga side this campaign, a situation that has clearly left him dissatisfied. The 24-year-old has since voiced his concerns to the club’s manager, Xabi Alonso, hoping for a change in his fortunes.
“It’s frustrating, to be honest,” Tella admitted in an interview with BILD.
“But I spoke to the coach, and he assured me that I will get opportunities, and that I need to be patient.”
Despite his limited involvement, Tella remains optimistic about his ability to make an impact when called upon.
“When I get a chance, I have to show myself. I believe I’ve done well, and I’m also training well,” he added.
He also acknowledged that, ultimately, it is up to Alonso to make the final decision on team selection. “It’s up to the coach to have the confidence to use me,” Tella said.
“He makes the decisions, and they’ve been working well so far.”
Bayer Leverkusen will face Eintracht Frankfurt in their next Bundesliga fixture at the BayArena on Saturday, October 19, and Tella will be hoping for a chance to prove himself in the upcoming match.