Rolfes calls for Leverkusen cool

Bayer 04 Leverkusen midfielder Simon Rolfes believes patience will be key in the first leg of the Bundesliga club's UEFA Cup quarter-final against CA Osasuna.

Discipline crucial
The 25-year-old, in his second season at Leverkusen after joining from TSV Alemannia Aachen, insists a disciplined display is crucial to the home side's chances. "It is extremely important not to give anything away in the first leg. We must concentrate on defending well and keeping Osasuna away from our goal. Hopefully we will be able to create something, but we cannot afford to lose our cool if we don't get an early goal," he said.

Defensive duties
With Carsten Ramelow sidelined, Rolfes has had to adapt to a more defensive role in midfield although the German international is not complaining. "Obviously it is great to play alongside Carsten because it gives me more chance to get forward. But we are doing well and I am happy with the way I am playing. It is extremely important that all the players do their job and that is what I try to do," he told uefa.com.

'Dream come true'
He did enough to persuade national coach Joachim Löw to hand him a first Germany cap in the 1-0 friendly defeat by Denmark last week. "Making my international debut was a dream. I enjoyed every single minute of the match despite the result. It was the reward for a lot of hard work," Rolfes said. Indeed, the former Werder Bremen trainee's performances since the winter break have helped Leverkusen reach the quarter-finals following some indifferent group stage results; and he thinks it is no coincidence they have found form now. "Maybe we need the pressure. We are much more disciplined than earlier this season. We don't have to take the game to our opponents all the time, which allows us to play on the break and works well for us."

Spanish dream
Rolfes, who is reportedly attracting interest from some of Europe's leading clubs with his UEFA Cup displays, also has one eye on the future. "I am still a very young player, I have a lot to learn and I am very happy here, but I would like the challenge of playing abroad one day. And if I had the choice of which country to play in, I would say Spain." It is an ambition he can fulfil in the second leg against Osasuna in Pamplona on 12 April.