Christian Kofane shines as Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand hails progress

Christian Kofane is enjoying a real upswing at Bayer Leverkusen, with the 19-year-old forward forcing his way into the spotlight in recent weeks.

He has started three of the club’s last five competitive matches, including the 1-1 Champions League draw against Arsenal, contributing two goals and two assists in that run.

Head coach Kasper Hjulmand is clearly impressed with the youngster’s impact. “He played very well”, the Leverkusen boss said before the second leg against Arsenal, noting that Kofane needed some time to reset after returning from the Africa Cup of Nations but has been “very good” in recent weeks.

Hjulmand particularly values Kofane’s physicality and defensive work. “It’s very difficult to play against Kofi because he’s very strong and has a great presence when pressing. That made it tough for the center-backs against him”, he explained, praising the striker’s presence without the ball.

The coach believes Kofane is on the right path, stressing that he is making “Big steps forward every week” and adding: “We are very happy to have him with us.” Whether he starts again against Arsenal remains open, with Patrik Schick also pushing for a place.
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