Another week remains before the Bundesliga kicks off, but Germany's top-tier outfits are back in action with the DFB Pokal this weekend. While every team starts with a clean slate, some have more reason for optimism than others as the new season approaches.

To gauge the mood across the league, I spoke with a fan from each of the 18 Bundesliga clubs. Here’s what they had to say about their hopes and concerns surrounding their team as the new campaign draws near.

Bayer Leverkusen - @B04Bastii

Optimism

The continuance of Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen reflects an impressive level of ambition. Additionally, the squad has not only been retained but also enhanced in terms of squad depth. New signings such as Aleix García, who captained La Liga’s surprise team Girona, and Martin Terrier, who tore his ACL early in 2023 but seems poised to regain his form, could inject great competition and quality into the team.

Pessimism

After an unbeaten league run that ended with the domestic double, there is little room for improvement this season. Expectations are huge, and global media attention has skyrocketed. The pressure on the club is at an all-time high to replicate a historic season. A seemingly impossible task!

VfB Stuttgart - @VillageFooty20

Optimism

One personal note of promise will be seeing the talented winger Silas back to his best. He is entering the season (finally) free from injury, and departures in the final third means he could take a more prominent role in the starting 11 this season. 

Another positive signal for Stuttgart has been their proactive approach in the summer market. The biggest recruitment has been Ermedin Demirović from FC Augsburg, but there are other smart deals to choose from. VfB quickly made the loan signings of Leonidas Stergiou, Anthony Rouault and Jamie Leweling permanent and purchased solid players like Nick Woltemade, Jeff Chabot, Yannik Keitel, and Justin Diehl to bulk up the squad further for an onslaught in three competitions. That’s not even covering the loan deals for promising youngster Franz Krätzig and Swiss Euro star Fabian Rieder. 

Pessimism

The substantial loss of Serhou Guirassy, along with last season's captain Waldemar Anton defecting to BVB and versatile defender Hiroki Ito transferring to southern rivals Bayern Munich, are the primary sources of anxiety. These departures create large gaps in the starting eleven, which need plugging. 

The other reason for pessimism will be centered around the squad’s ability to cope with playing twice a week. There is a genuine worry that we could suffer a fate similar to Union Berlin's last season. 

FC Bayern - @Der_Augustus

Optimism 

There is a strong sense of shared goals and unity within the team, especially when it comes to decision-making processes at the top. Unlike Thomas Tuchel's era, which suffered from a disconnect between the coach’s vision and the board’s perspective, the current environment appears more cohesive and supportive. The team’s style of play has also been promising in pre-season, featuring a proactive, high-pressing approach more reminiscent of Bayern’s true dominant style. The great working conditions, shared objectives, and emerging talent make me optimistic about our future success. 

Pessimism

While the squad shows signs of improvement, there are still uncertainties that will only be clarified by the end of the transfer window. Our sales performance has been disappointing, with subpar figures, offers, and execution speed. 

Vincent Kompany’s lack of managerial experience in critical fixtures could also prove costly. It will be crucial to present a strong performance in the league while also proving our worth in Europe. This high level of pressure means that one or two poor games early in the season could significantly increase the scrutiny. How we handle this pressure can also be a source of pessimism!

RB Leipzig - @RBLTalk

Optimism

There is plenty of optimism for supporters and fans of Die Roten Bullen. Exciting young talents have joined the squad in Assan Ouédraogo (Schalke 04), Maarten Vandevoordt (KRC Genk), and Antonio Nusa (Club Brügge). I also fully expect Lois Openda (24 yrs) and Benjamin Šeško (21 yrs) to score plenty of goals and be amongst the most formidable strike duos in the division.

Pessimism

We lack depth in the squad; especially at the heart of midfield and full back positions. If injuries become a persistent factor, we will not get very far in the European competitions and will struggle  to reach our minimum goal of making the top 4 in the Bundesliga.

It is of paramount importance that we play Champions League football each season to attract the best possible talent in world football.

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Borussia Dortmund - @bvbphilosophie

Optimism

After a frustrating Bundesliga season that included some of the worst football played by a BVB side in recent history, a much-needed overhaul accompanied this summer. With Nuri Şahin there is a new coach with a renewed focus on possession, and with Yan Couto, Maximilian Beier, Waldemar Anton, Pascal Groß, and Serhou Guirassy, Dortmund have recruited players with a fitting profile to Şahin’s philosophy. We will struggle to be title contenders, but the focus on more attractive & proactive football makes me, and many other BVB fans, very happy and optimistic for the season ahead.

Pessimism

When you initiate such a comprehensive rebuild, there are always things that can go wrong. Şahin is an inexperienced coach and there are a lot of question marks concerning how he will handle the big personalities and difficult situations that could arise. 

Furthermore, the squad is still far from where it optimally needs to be. Many players do not fit Şahin’s football philosophy, but they will nevertheless have to play given the lack of suitable alternatives. For example, Ramy Bensebaini and Emre Can have significant weaknesses in possession, but both are still set to feature for considerable minutes this season. 

Eintracht Frankfurt - @inside_ffm

Optimism

At the time of writing the squad has largely remained intact, and we have even gained an experienced leader and high-performer in Rasmus Kristensen at right-back. Marcus Krösche has managed to ensure that there is great talent in practically every position in the squad. 

Furthermore, the fact that Hugo Ekitiké is top fit and taking part in the preparations will be a tremendous asset to our game. He is a playmaking center-forward who can unlock this squad’s full potential. 

Pessimism

With Makoto Hasebe and Sebastian Rode, two experienced leaders are no longer part of the squad. There is (so far) no suitable replacement for Rode. 

Despite our impressive final position in the table, last season was frequently disappointing in terms of our style of play and ability to dominate matches. If we want to return to the Champions League, we still need a good left-back and a backup, or even upgrade, for Ellyes Skhiri in the holding midfield role.

TSG Hoffenheim - @RuhrpottRomario

Optimism

Matarazzo has been back at the club for over a year and has the benefit of another preseason with this squad under his belt. After Alfred Schreuder, Sebastian Hoeneß, and André Breitenreiter struggled to deliver consistent results over extended periods, having some continuity in the managerial role is a significant advantage.

Not to forget, of course, what Matarazzo has already achieved with this squad. The American coach saved us from relegation in 2023 and was instrumental in helping Hoffenheim qualify for the Europa League last season.

Pessimism

There are quite a lot of reasons for pessimism surrounding the club. In upper management, there has been a seismic quake after several upper-level staff members have either been fired or left by their own admission. Where the club goes from here is one large, unsolved, riddle! 

The squad also still lacks both in quality and depth going into the European season. Our business has also been extremely underwhelming. We have lost our top goalscorer Maximilian Beier, and besides the addition of Austrian international Alexander Prass, TSG Hoffenheim are yet to make an external addition this summer. 

1. FC Heidenheim - EbbApprehensive7037

Optimism

If anyone can bring together a largely new-look team with many untested players and elevate them to a solid Bundesliga level, it has to be the man, the myth, the legend—Frank Schmidt. Schmidt proved time and time again that he'll get the absolute most out of his squad. I believe in him to do it again this season and steer the team clear of relegation.

Pessimism 

FC Heidenheim have basically lost all of their influential attacking performers from last season. It was clear that Eren Dinkçi’s loan would not be made permanent, but to also lose Kevin Sessa, Tim Kleindienst, and Jan-Niklas Beste is a bitter pill to swallow. This quartet contributed to more than half of Heidenheim’s goals last season.

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SV Werder Bremen - @usgefuchst

Optimism

It is the first year since the 2006/07 season that Bremen didn’t lose at least one key player during the summer. The squad has an appreciation of Ole Werner’s expectations, and they have built seamless chemistry on the pitch. Particularly Romano Schmid and Justin Njinmah could be on the verge of a true break-out-season that could elevate this side to the next level.

Pessimism

While no key player left – Nick Woltemade didn’t play enough to merit that status – no player has arrived with the potential to immediately strengthen the squad. Keke Topp is the only signing who is pushing for a starting job right away. The first friendlies were patchy at best and players like Marco Friedl or Mitchell Weiser voiced merited concerns and demanded new players. 

Additionally, Justin Njinmah appears to be out of form following his injury at the end of last season. Meanwhile, Felix Agu and Olivier Deman are currently the only options at left-back, and both still need to demonstrate that they are a solution rather than contributors to a long-standing problem position.

SC Freiburg - @SCTalente

Optimism 

It could be the most exciting season in recent years. The new coach Julian Schuster brings fresh ideas, and the squad has been up-ended with a large number of extremely promising players (Noah Weißhaupt, Bruno Ogbus, etc.) who are ready to take the next step. On top of that, we have been able to keep the most important players! 

The departure of the former coach Christian Streich is still in the head of everyone, but the new era of the club has been accepted and the people in Freiburg are looking forward to a blank slate.

Pessimism

Some key positions on the pitch are not optimally filled, and there is a lack of alternatives. For example, while Nicolas Höfler is a great player and crucial in our build-up play, he's not getting any younger. Without him the team lacks security, but Freiburg also don’t have a similar younger profile to develop in the squad. 

The striker position has also not been optimally filled for years. Michael Gregoritsch, Lucas Höler and Junior Adamu have not consistently convinced so far. The right type of player who fits the financial, footballing, and cultural values of Freiburg has proven to be a rare commodity on the transfer market. 

FC Augsburg - @ugsburgerTam

Optimism

Our transfers are one place of optimism. The departure of Ermedin Demirović is a big blow, but the additions of Samuel Essende and Steve Mounié are very promising. Essende in particular is coming off a great season in Portugal with 15 goals for FC Vizela. We also can not forget the transfers of Marius Wolf and Dimitrios Giannoulis. On paper, these are two great fullbacks for a mid-table Bundesliga club.

Our coach, Jess Thorup, was also quick to improve our tactics last season and he even had us dreaming about European football for a few weeks. Although we didn't manage to qualify due to our slump at the end of the season, finishing 11th is still an above-average achievement for us - especially considering our very slow start under Enrico Maaßen.

Lastly, we have a quite fortuitous schedule with the presumably most difficult opponents spread out across the campaign. We‘re facing RB Leipzig on matchday 5, Borussia Dortmund on matchday 8, FC Bayern on matchday 11, Bayer Leverkusen on matchday 14 and VfB Stuttgart on matchday 16. This makes another major slump in form unlikely

Pessimism

If Kopenhagen fans told us one thing, then it‘s that their former manager - Jess Thorup - can be unnecessarily stubborn with his tactics. We already saw a hint of that stubbornness last season when he insisted on implementing a three-at-the-back system, which didn’t work at all. We might see this tendency resurface in more alarming proportions this season.

Furthermore, I still have certain doubts about how well Marius Wolf will fit into the team. In the preseason, we primarily played a four-at-the-back with a diamond midfield, but Wolf is far more effective as a right wing-back rather than a traditional right-back, as his attacking strengths far outweigh his defensive abilities.

Finally, our latest preseason test against Olympique Marseille leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. The 3-1 defeat might seem manageable on paper, but the scoreline could have been much worse. OM is a far superior team at this stage, and it’s evident that we still have a lot of work to do before the Bundesliga begins if we want to make this season a successful one.

VfL Wolfsburg - @Elia_wob221

Optimism

The squad is coming together really well. We have good depth across multiple positions, have individual talent that can decide fixtures (Jonas Wind, Patrick Wimmer, Maxence Lacroix, Kamil Grabara), and great talents who can make the next step this campaign (Bennit Bröger, Kevin Paredes Kilian Fischer, Bence Dárdai).

The disastrous campaign last year should also have helped this side grow together and the club will have taken lessons from the failures under Niko Kovač. This, along with the fact that Ralph Hassenhüttl is a coach with a clear vision and coaching principles, should help us become a more successful outfit this campaign.

Pessimism

Our roster boasts talent, depth, and flashes of top-tier quality, but it’s far from flawless. We would greatly benefit from adding another elite center-back, and there are still too many players who are either surplus to requirements (like Nicolas Cozza and Mattias Svanberg) or have underperformed given their hefty price tags (such as Lovro Majer and Kevin Behrens).

Off the pitch, significant issues persist. Our board lacks the necessary football expertise, resulting in poor sporting decisions and a growing disconnect between the club and its supporters. For instance, concerns about radical changes to our club badge and kits that stray from our traditional colors have been dismissed by the board.

Mainz 05 - @etimassa

Optimism

Manager Bo Henriksen looked like a man on a mission in the last few months of the season. If he maintains this motivation, unity, and intensity for the entire season, Mainz could enjoy an impressive Bundesliga campaign. The form from last season and the rejuvenated sense of belonging in and around the club are promising. We have a coach who identifies with the club and our philosophies, and a squad that has come together through a challenging period to become one of the most impressive sides in the division by the end of the last campaign. In fact, only four Bundesliga teams took more points from their final five league matches last season (9 points).

Pessimism

The season hasn't even started yet and the club is already in trouble outside the pitch. Anwar El Ghazi was awarded over €1.00m after winning a wrongful termination case against Mainz 05. Meanwhile, new signing Kaishu Sano, who was expected to replace the hugely influential Leandro Barreiro in central midfield, joined the team very late due to an investigation into sexual assault charges in Japan. With key defensive cornerstone Sepp van den Berg returning to his parent club Liverpool and the future of starlet Brajan Gruda still uncertain, there is little reason for optimism this summer.

Borussia Mönchengladbach - @bmg_edits

Optimism

The new signings - Tim Kleindienst, Kevin Stöger, and Philipp Sander, are set to greatly enhance the footballing and leadership qualities within the squad. With Kleindienst, a strong and intense goalscorer has been acquired. Stöger, who joined on a free transfer, brings creativity and proven Bundesliga quality to the midfield. Sander, acquired at a low cost, was considered one of the best central midfielders in the 2nd Bundesliga and also served as captain for newly-promoted Holstein Kiel. 

In a well-functioning system, the quality embedded in the squad could come to fruition, and players like Stöger and Franck Honorat could provide exciting offensive interplay for a natural finisher like Kleindienst to feed on. 

Pessimism

Despite the offensive upgrades and the almost overstaffed central midfield, the defense still needs a significant overhaul. Despite having the seventh-best attack in the division last season, Gladbach ended the campaign with a -11 goal difference. 67 goals conceded (1.97 per game) was worthy of relegation, with only Bochum and Darmstadt performing worse. 

There is an urgent need for reinforcements all across the back four and in defensive midfield. However, financial resources are still lacking, as the hoped-for sales of Manu Koné and Nico Elvedi have not yet been realized. 

Union Berlin - @jonricUNVEU

Optimism

We can’t be as poor as last season! We have a new coach (Bo Svensson) who has Bundesliga experience and appears in tune with the qualities of the squad and the demands of the fanbase. We also welcome Horst Heldt to the club in the role of managing director. This allows Oliver Ruhnert to return to his role as chief scout and focus on the player recruitment that was such a monumental failure last season. We are Union and we don’t do things the easy way but we get there in the end!

Pessimism

We have much less money than last season, and, at the time of writing, we are yet to announce a shirt sponsor. We also don’t appear much closer to solving last season‘s goal drought; a proven Bundesliga striker is desperately needed! As always, we can’t relax until the transfer window closes; we need to bolster the squad, but simultaneously we remain at risk of losing our better players to clubs with deeper pockets.

VfL Bochum - @Chrisk1848

Optimism

The high-profile transfers, which were already promised last year, have finally come around this off-season. The focus of the transfers has finally shifted to a model prioritizing young talent that can impact in the present and be sold with high-resale value. This leaves us with a first eleven that is very strong, and Bochum should have the quality to leave three teams behind when matchday 34 rolls around. 

Alongside the great signings, a current squad member, Lukas Daschner, also looks primed to finally have his break-out season. Daschner was influential throughout the final stretch of the previous campaign, and his pre-season has been very strong. 

Finally, one can also take comfort from the fact that it seems impossible that we will experience another campaign with the same misfortune as last year. No other team lost more points via stoppage time goals last season, and if Bochum can get this out of their system it should be a more comfortable campaign. To be honest, it cannot be any more turbulent anyways!

Pessimism

The transfer additions are cause for optimism, but they have also only arrived due to the significant departures we have had to contend with. This is likely the most significant exodus in quality we've experienced since our first season after promotion. Kevin Stöger, Takuma Asano, Patrick Osterhage, and Keven Schlotterbeck are 4 key starters that have left the club, while the next could quickly follow in Brazilian defender Bernardo. The squad depth is non-existent, and two or three injuries could leave us in free fall. 

Additionally, while the transfer quality is high, there are also some significant gambles. Myron Boadu and Aliou Baldé both played fewer than 500 minutes last season, and many of the exciting U21 additions may not be an immediate help in the relegation battle. Arminia Bielefeld’s fate from a few years back is a cautious example of how this season could pan out if we are not careful. 

St. Pauli - @Jakob_Haffke

Optimism

Finally, St. Pauli is back in the Bundesliga! This alone is enough to make supporters hopeful for the upcoming season. Playing against the biggest sides in Germany and visiting new grounds after what felt like an eternity in the 2nd division. Add to that the small matter of being a whole division above local rivals HSV for the first time in history! In addition to all this optimism, the club has never been more stable and secure in terms of its infrastructure and financial management. It seems like the perfect time to establish the Kiezkicker in the Bundesliga.

Most of the squad that won promotion in such emphatic style are also still here and there seems to be financial leeway to make further additions to the squad. Most of the supporters really trust sporting director Andréas Bornemann to find the right players to strengthen the squad.

Lastly, the acquisition of Alexander Blessin seems to be a remarkable coup for a newly promoted Bundesliga team. Blessin not only clinched the Belgian Cup last season but also secured a 2nd-place finish in the league with Union Saint-Gilloise.

Pessimism

Fabian Hürzeler, one of the best coaches the club has ever had, has left for Brighton & Hove Albion. Marcel Hartel, the club’s top scorer and one of the most influential players of the last seasons, left on a free to play in the MLS. Also, the hope that finally a homegrown player will make a real impact on the team is fleeting now that Eric Da Silva Moreira, U17-world cup winner with Germany, is leaving for a meager fee of €1.50m.

There are also some significant concerns beyond the transfer window. Who will score the goals next season is the most pressing concern, but also the way in which the defense struggled against quick transitions in the second tier means it can only fare even worse against much higher-quality top-tier opposition? 

Can the team also adapt to the changes in style that the Bundesliga will bring, considering they won't be as ball-dominant next season, and Blessin prefers a highly aggressive out-of-possession approach? Additionally, where will the mercurial wingers Elias Saad and Dapo Afolayan play and how will they adapt when Blessin establishes his preferred 3-5-2-system with two strikers and no out-and-out wingers? So many questions, so little time to find answers!

Holstein Kiel - @buxdahude

Optimism

For the first time in our history, Holstein Kiel have made it to the Bundesliga. A club without ambitious top-flight expectations in a city where football isn't the main sport means the pressure will be off from day one. Players, fans, and coaches will stand united through the inevitable challenges, which could give us a unique advantage over many other clubs.

In addition, one of our big advantages is the fact that we have no specific superstar in the squad. Everyone played their part in last season’s promotion, and when one player drops out of form, another one picks up the pieces. This unity will be crucial once again in the top flight, especially as Kiel have largely retained a similar squad to the one that secured promotion last May.

Pessimism

It will no doubt be a difficult season, and if the pre-season is anything to go by, it could be heading in the wrong direction from day one. From our 6 pre-season friendlies, we have only managed one victory; a 4:1 triumph over Danish 2nd-tier outfit Boldklubben af 1893. Particularly scoring has been a problem, with 4 of these 6 test matches ending without a single Holstein Kiel goal. 

As our test matches probably showed, this squad does not necessarily have the absolute quality to compete against most sides in the Bundesliga. We have very little topflight experience - only 5 players have played more than 10 matches in the Bundesliga - and our financial limitations mean we will not be able to sign the necessary individual quality that can decide tight matches in our favor.