It has been some season for Rene Adler.
He was man of the match in countless games, whether in the Bundesliga or in Europe. Looking back, one week in February surely stands out:
First Adler frustrated the Galatasaray strikers in Bayer's goalless UEFA Cup draw at the Bosporus.
And then he secured a point for Leverkusen in the 2-2 draw in Karlsruhe, keeping out several gilt-edged opportunities.
"Outstanding"
"Adler was outstanding, a very good performance", KSC defender Maik Franz rang the praises.
A few minutes earlier Adler had kept out Franz's goalbound injury-time header with a sensational reflex save - the last one of quite a few over the course of the 90 minutes.
"He has shown once again that he has outstanding qualities", Bayer coach Michael Skibbe said.
Adler for Germany?
"He has been the best Bundesliga goalkeeper this season", acknowledges Andreas Köpke, goalkeeping coach for the German national team.
And rightly so, because the two matches mentioned are just two of many in which Adler has been nothing short of brilliant.
Is there a possibility that Adler's international debut is just around the corner? "Of course there's a chance he will be in the squad for the Euro 2008. And that's why I say that the door isn't shut", Köpke reveals.
Patience and humbleness
Bayer take a patient approach, however. "Rene Adler's time will come. It's very likely that he will be the new number one after the European championships", sporting director Rudi Völler believes.
What about the man himself? He's even more patient, there was no revelling in his heroics in post-match interviews. He rather enjoys his fine form on his own.
And if he continues to perform like that, there will be much more to enjoy for him in the future.
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