Victor Boniface received encouraging words from Bayer Leverkusen manager Carles Martínez after making a short late cameo in the club’s 5-2 DFB Cup win over 1. FC Nürnberg at the BayArena.
Key takeaways
- Boniface entered the cup tie in the closing moments, replacing Jonas Hofmann.
- The Nigerian forward played for slightly more than three minutes but impressed Martínez.
- His appearance against Nürnberg was only his second of the season.
- The 25-year-old had previously come off the bench in Leverkusen’s opening-season match against SV Elversberg.
Manager backs forward after limited role
Boniface has struggled to secure consistent minutes since the campaign began, with regular first-team opportunities proving scarce. His inclusion against Nürnberg nevertheless gave him a chance to show his value, even if his involvement was limited to the final stages of the match.
Martínez said he understood the striker’s disappointment at not playing a larger part so far, while stressing that Boniface wants to become a more important contributor for the team.
“I’m pleased for him because I know he wanted playing time and wanted to matter,” Martínez said via Liga Insider. “He did well in those few minutes.”
Opportunity to rebuild his place
The brief DFB Cup outing followed Boniface’s substitute appearance against SV Elversberg in Leverkusen’s first fixture of the season. The Nigerian international will now seek to convert these limited chances into a more regular role.
As he works to return to his strongest level, Boniface will be aiming to build on Martínez’s positive assessment, make a greater impact in future appearances and strengthen his position in Leverkusen’s plans for the rest of the season.
