Gutiérrez Explains Why His Leverkusen Start Has Felt So Natural

Miguel Gutiérrez has already provided three assists from the left for Bayer Leverkusen this season. The natural assumption would be that the delivery is rehearsed and refined on the training ground until the movement becomes automatic.

Apparently not.

The answer is surprising given how quickly one particular part of his game has translated to the Bundesliga. Gutiérrez explained that his deliveries are instead dictated by what he sees in front of him. When Patrik Schick or Christian Kofane moves, he knows where the ball needs to go.

It sounds simple. His first weeks in Germany suggest otherwise.

Gutiérrez has one goal and three assists through his first four Bundesliga appearances, continuing a start that has quickly justified why Leverkusen were so determined to bring him to the BayArena.

His connection with Schick has already produced one of the clearest examples. Against RB Leipzig, Gutiérrez found space on the left and delivered for the Czech striker to score the opening goal. He then scored Leverkusen's second himself in a 2-0 victory. Roundtable previously noted that the performance illustrated his ability to influence games in different ways without Leverkusen having to reshape their attack around him.

There was considerable planning behind making that transition look so natural.

Simon Rolfes revealed last month that Gutiérrez had been Leverkusen's preferred successor to Alejandro Grimaldo long before the position became vacant. The club had been in contact with him since last year rather than beginning its search once Grimaldo left.

Gutiérrez has now confirmed that he knew about that interest.

Before agreeing to the move, the Spaniard spoke with Rolfes and head coach Carles Martínez about how Leverkusen wanted to play. The conversation helped convince him because the ideas were similar to those he had already experienced at Girona, Gutiérrez told BILD.

That familiarity may help explain why there has been so little evidence of an adjustment period.

Die Werkself lead the Bundesliga in crosses from open play, while Martínez has built a system that asks his players to attack spaces rather than remain tied to rigid positions. Gutiérrez fits comfortably into both ideas: capable of providing width and delivery from the outside, but equally comfortable moving into different areas during possession.

His ambitions extend beyond settling in.

Gutiérrez told BILD that he wants to perform at a high level and compete for trophies with Leverkusen. There is also the question of Spain.

Luis de la Fuente has already confirmed that the national team staff is watching Gutiérrez's performances in Germany. The competition at left-back remains considerable, but his opening weeks have at least put a senior international place within sight.

It is a lot to have changed in little more than a month.

Gutiérrez arrived as the carefully selected successor to one of Leverkusen's most influential players. Four league matches later, he has four goal contributions, his national-team coach is watching and the qualities Leverkusen spent more than a year identifying are already deciding matches.

He says he does not practice the crosses.

If they keep finding their target, nobody at Bayer will be asking him to start.

From here the stage only gets bigger.