Nathan Tella’s first goal of the 2024/25 season might rank among the most crucial for Bayer Leverkusen, but it has also cast a spotlight on his frustrations with limited playing time.
Super Eagles winger Nathan Tella has voiced his frustration with his limited playing time at Bayer Leverkusen after scoring his first goal of the 2024/25 season in their DFB Pokal victory over Bayern Munich on Tuesday, December 3.
Tella has struggled for regular minutes, featuring in only eight of Leverkusen’s 12 Bundesliga matches so far, with an average of just 16 minutes per game. On Tuesday, however, the 25-year-old came on in the 61st minute—his third DFB Pokal appearance—and got on the scoresheet eight minutes later, having earlier grabbed two assists.
Reflecting on his situation with the Bundesliga champions, the 25-year-old said, “I’ll be honest, it’s been really frustrating from the start of the season. I think every player wants to play as much as they can, and I feel like I’ve been ready to play. But I can’t argue with the coach; he knows what’s best for the team. He made the decision not to start me but to bring me on, and it worked out pretty well today, so I’m happy.
“He’s been saying, ‘keep going, keep being patient.’ Obviously, he knows it’s frustrating, as it is for every player who hasn’t started. But he wanted me to stay patient and assured me my time would come—and thankfully, it has.”
Tella’s club struggles mirror his national team experience. After making his debut for Nigeria in November 2023, the Arsenal academy product has been absent from the team, missing all of their 2024 campaigns.
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