Nigeria winger Nathan Tella has set his sights on Europa League glory this season, determined to help Bayer Leverkusen go one step further in the competition they came so close to winning last year.

Leverkusen travel to Poland to face Lech Poznan at the Poznan Stadium on Thursday in a Matchday Two fixture, as they look to build momentum in this season's campaign.

Magical European nights

Tella drew on the memory of Leverkusen's remarkable 2023/24 Europa League run — an unbeaten journey all the way to the final in Dublin — as motivation for what lies ahead.

"Those were magical nights. We want to build on those, as well as the last few games," Tella said on the club's official website.

A competition close to his heart

The Europa League holds deep personal significance for Tella. It was in this competition that he scored his first goal for Leverkusen, netting in a 2-1 win over Molde on October 5, 2023, on what was also his maiden appearance in European football.

"This competition means a lot to me. They were my first games in Europe," the former Burnley man said.

With those memories fuelling his ambition, Tella will be eager to play a central role as Leverkusen chase another deep European run — and ultimately the trophy itself.