German double winners Leverkusen start pre-season

Bayer Leverkusen started the pre-season with diagnostics on Sunday, back in action from a Bundesliga and German Cup double they achieved in historic fashion last term.

Xabi Alonso's men became the first German team to go unbeaten all season in domestic action. They lost only once in 53 matches in all competitions, missing an unbeaten treble due to a 3-0 Europa League final defeat against Italy's Atalanta.

"The coach said we can do things better, two titles are not enough," goalkeeper and captain Lukas Hradecky quipped in a club TV video published on Sunday.

He added on a more serious note: "It was unforgettable and we definitely want to relive those moments.

"To achieve this we need a good summer preparation to start well from day one and be in the upper regions of the standings."

Newly signed Aleix Garcia and Jeanuel Belocian are present while 11 players who participated at Euro 2024 and the Copa America will join after a three-week holiday for each man.

The diagnostics are followed by a first public training session on Monday. A training camp in southern Germany is scheduled for July 28-August 2, and pre-season matches include an August 7 game at Premier League runners-up Arsenal.

Leverkusen's first official match is the German Super Cup against VfB Stuttgart on August 17. They open the Bundesliga season six days later at Borussia Mönchengladbach.

""Last season was great, but it's over now. The focus is on the future. Even defending the title doesn't change that - we're starting from scratch," sporting director Simon Rolfes told the Bild paper.

"We want to play for the top again," he added.