Moussa Diaby is back at Bayer Leverkusen, with the winger reflecting on how he and the club have evolved since his 2023 departure and the special feeling of being welcomed back by the BayArena faithful.
Diaby, 27, made 172 appearances for Leverkusen between 2019 and his 2023 move to Aston Villa. Following a spell with Al-Ittihad, the France international returned to the BayArena on deadline day this summer.
Bundesliga: How does it feel like to be back at Bayer Leverkusen?
Moussa Diaby: “Coming back here is always a pleasure because I’ve always had the support of everyone, whether it was the fans or the people at the club. So I’m really happy to be back here. It’s like being at home.”
Bundesliga: What are your best memories of your first spell from 2019 to 2023?
Diaby: “The best ones that came back to me when I stepped onto the pitch were the European nights, with the atmosphere and all the fans in the stadium creating an incredible atmosphere and pushing us during the games.”
Diaby registered 49 goals and 47 assists in his first spell at Leverkusen. – IMAGO/Revierfoto/IMAGO/Revierfoto
Bundesliga: Do you get the feeling Leverkusen have changed in the meantime?
Diaby: “Yes, it’s a bigger club. After I left, they became champions. They were an unbeaten team and almost managed to win every competition. I think that helped the club grow a lot. It remains a club with a lot of ambition and a lot of talent, and one that develops excellent players.”
Bundesliga: How was it to get a huge ovation from the fans when you came on to play for the first time since returning in the 4-0 win against Union Berlin on Matchday 2?
Diaby: “It made me happy, and it touched me because I know all the love they have for me, and it’s mutual. I know they’ve always been there, at home and away, supporting us in the good moments as well as the bad ones. I’m very grateful to them, and I hope we can repay them this season by playing some very good football.”
Diaby back as new-look Leverkusen take shape
Bundesliga: How much of an attraction were the fans in returning to the club?
Diaby: “They were a big part. Even before signing here, I received a lot of messages on social media saying that I needed to come back. I know that the Bayer Leverkusen fans are very important to the club and also to us because when we play at home, they are always there, regardless of the result. I think that’s also one of the club’s strengths.”
Bundesliga: Do you feel you have changed as a player during your time away?
Diaby: “I think my style of play is still the same, and I think the biggest change is that I’ve gotten older. I was 20 when I joined, 24 when I left, and now I’m 27. I think I’ve matured, and I can bring a lot to the team with my experience because I’ve now played in several different leagues. I think that makes it easier for me to adapt during games depending on the opponent and also to help the other players in the team.”
Diaby: “Yes, of course. At 27, I’m still young, but as you know, we have a lot of young players in our team now, so I’m one of the more experienced players. I’ll have to take on both roles, through what I say and also by setting an example on the pitch. I think the most important thing is always what happens on the pitch. We’ll focus first on the essential things, which means winning games and moving forward step by step.”
Bundesliga: Is it strange to see that Edmond Tapsoba, who is the same age and joined Leverkusen shortly after you in 2020, is now club captain?
Diaby: “When we arrived here, we were both the same. We were two young players who were basically discovering the professional world. We learned and grew here, and we also absorbed a little bit of German culture. I’ve now taken a different path, while he decided to stay here. I think he has been rewarded for that. We’re all happy that he is the captain because he’s a leader.”
Bundesliga: Will we see you at full fitness soon?
Diaby: “That is the plan. Before the match against Union Berlin, I didn’t have much training in my legs. But I think my explosiveness, my rhythm and everything else are still in me. I just need to keep working in training to really get back to 100 per cent and start helping the team as quickly as possible.”
Bundesliga: What do you hope to achieve with Leverkusen this season?
Diaby: “We are a big club, so of course we have big ambitions. We’re not going to rush things. We’ll take it match by match, train well and look at the things that might not work in certain games. We have to stick together, be a team and all move in the same direction.”