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Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah looks to finish historic season unbeaten and with more trophies

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Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah looks to finish historic season unbeaten and with more trophies
Sport

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Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah looks to finish historic season unbeaten and with more trophies

2024-04-25 17:22 Last Updated At:17:41

LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Jonathan Tah is already a German champion with Bayer Leverkusen. He's hungry for more titles.

Tah could yet complete a treble this season in the Europa League — where Leverkusen plays Roma in the semifinals next week — and in the German Cup. Then there's the European Championship with Germany, for which Tah has become a regular starter in central defense alongside Real Madrid's Antonio Rüdiger.

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FILE - Germany's Jonathan Tah, center, goes for a header with France's Jean-Clair Todibo, left, and Adrien Rabiot during the international friendly soccer match between Germany and France in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FILE - Germany's Jonathan Tah, center, goes for a header with France's Jean-Clair Todibo, left, and Adrien Rabiot during the international friendly soccer match between Germany and France in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FILE - Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, right, celebrates with teammates Jonathan Tah, up, Victor Boniface, left, and Granit Xhaka, centre, after scoring a goal that was seconds later disallowed by a VAR decision during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, on Dec. 3, 2023. Excitement was building in Leverkusen, Germany on Sunday ahead of local team Bayer Leverkusen’s expected Bundesliga title win after an outstanding season so far. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

FILE - Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, right, celebrates with teammates Jonathan Tah, up, Victor Boniface, left, and Granit Xhaka, centre, after scoring a goal that was seconds later disallowed by a VAR decision during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, on Dec. 3, 2023. Excitement was building in Leverkusen, Germany on Sunday ahead of local team Bayer Leverkusen’s expected Bundesliga title win after an outstanding season so far. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, left, and Dortmund's Niclas Fuellkrug challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, left, and Dortmund's Niclas Fuellkrug challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FILE - Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, left, and Dortmund's Niclas Fuellkrug, right, go for a header during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 21, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FILE - Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, left, and Dortmund's Niclas Fuellkrug, right, go for a header during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 21, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FILE - Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, right, sprays beer on head coach Xabi Alonso after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. After the Bundesliga title, Tah has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. He is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FILE - Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, right, sprays beer on head coach Xabi Alonso after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. After the Bundesliga title, Tah has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. He is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's players and coach Xabi Alonso — who Tah showered with beer during their title celebrations — aren't satisfied just with bringing the long-awaited first league title to a club once derided as “Neverkusen" for its near misses.

“This trophy gave us so much positive energy. To have that feeling to win a trophy, the hunger gets even bigger and that’s why we keep our level high," Tah tells The Associated Press. “One trophy is nice but there’s still more to achieve, so that’s why we keep pushing ourselves.”

Including the home game with Stuttgart on Saturday, Leverkusen is four games away from being the first German team to go unbeaten all season in the Bundesliga.

Tah and the rest of the defense have conceded in 30 league games just 20 goals — 17 fewer than Bayern Munich — and going unbeaten would be their crowning achievement.

“That means something for us because that’s never happened before,” Tah said. “We are racing ourselves because we are already Bundesliga champions. But that’s our own challenge now that we are playing for, and that’s why we want to keep that momentum and keep winning.”

Tah has been with Leverkusen since 2015 and is the club's second longest serving player. In that time, “the expectations of the club evolved” and Alonso has forged a competitive mindset, even in training, and rock-solid team spirit, Tah said.

“He’s expecting to win every game, no matter against who we play. He’s never scared. He always wants to win games and that’s his mindset,” Tah said of Alonso. Having a coach who won the World Cup and Champions League as a player opens up new possibilities in training. Clips from Alonso's sessions with Leverkusen have often gone viral as the coach casually plays pinpoint long passes or shows off his skills.

“He can show you what he wants to see from you and actually sometimes it’s really impressive how good his level still is,” Tah said. “I don’t want to take away (from) his tactical understanding and explaining the team on the (tactics) board and stuff like that, because he’s good at that as well, but of course he’s Xabi Alonso. He was a big player. He won everything. And if he explains something to you and shows it to you, it is different than a coach who has never played for a club before.”

Leverkusen's historic season will end with the German Cup final against Kaiserslautern on May 25 in Berlin. That comes three days after a potential Europa League final against Atalanta or Marseille in Dublin.

Tah's unlikely to get much rest after that. His performances with Leverkusen have helped to kick-start what had been a stop-start career with Germany. He's played every minute of Germany's last seven games, including every game since Julian Nagelsmann was appointed coach.

Tah believes Leverkusen's winning mindset could help Germany, too.

“That’s my part,” he said, "to bring that energy and that mindset that we have here in Leverkusen right now to the national team and try to do my best to support the team, so that we can be successful."

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

FILE - Germany's Jonathan Tah, center, goes for a header with France's Jean-Clair Todibo, left, and Adrien Rabiot during the international friendly soccer match between Germany and France in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FILE - Germany's Jonathan Tah, center, goes for a header with France's Jean-Clair Todibo, left, and Adrien Rabiot during the international friendly soccer match between Germany and France in Dortmund, Germany, Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FILE - Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, right, celebrates with teammates Jonathan Tah, up, Victor Boniface, left, and Granit Xhaka, centre, after scoring a goal that was seconds later disallowed by a VAR decision during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, on Dec. 3, 2023. Excitement was building in Leverkusen, Germany on Sunday ahead of local team Bayer Leverkusen’s expected Bundesliga title win after an outstanding season so far. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

FILE - Leverkusen's Florian Wirtz, right, celebrates with teammates Jonathan Tah, up, Victor Boniface, left, and Granit Xhaka, centre, after scoring a goal that was seconds later disallowed by a VAR decision during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayer Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, on Dec. 3, 2023. Excitement was building in Leverkusen, Germany on Sunday ahead of local team Bayer Leverkusen’s expected Bundesliga title win after an outstanding season so far. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, left, and Dortmund's Niclas Fuellkrug challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, left, and Dortmund's Niclas Fuellkrug challenge for the ball during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FILE - Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, left, and Dortmund's Niclas Fuellkrug, right, go for a header during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 21, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FILE - Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, left, and Dortmund's Niclas Fuellkrug, right, go for a header during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and Bayer Leverkusen in Dortmund, Germany, Sunday, April 21, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FILE - Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, right, sprays beer on head coach Xabi Alonso after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. After the Bundesliga title, Tah has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. He is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

FILE - Leverkusen's Jonathan Tah, right, sprays beer on head coach Xabi Alonso after Bayer Leverkusen won the German Bundesliga title beating Werder Bremen in Leverkusen, Germany, Sunday, April 14, 2024. After the Bundesliga title, Tah has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. He is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

Bayer Leverkusen defender Jonathan Tah talks to The Associated Press during an interview at the BayArena in Leverkusen, Germany, Wednesday, April 24, 2024. Tah won the Bundesliga title already, and has also the chance to win the German Cup and the Europa League this season with Leverkusen. Tah is also defender for Germany's national team. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)

LONDON (AP) — Grammy-winning singer Chris Brown was ordered held in custody Friday after appearing in a British courtroom to face allegations he beat a music producer with a bottle in a London nightclub in 2023.

Brown, 36, was charged in Manchester Magistrates’ Court with one count of causing grievous bodily harm. He didn't enter a plea.

Prosecutor Hannah Nicholls said the crime was “extremely serious” and that Brown had struck producer Abe Diaw several times with a bottle at the Tape nightclub in the swanky Mayfair neighborhood in London on Feb. 19, 2023. Brown was on tour in the U.K. at the time.

Brown then chased Diaw and punched and kicked him in an attack caught on surveillance camera in front a club full of people, Nicholls said.

Brown was flanked by court officers in the dock. His hair was bleached blonde and he wore sweatpants and a black T-shirt.

He confirmed his name and birth date and said his address was the local Lowry Hotel, where he was arrested early Thursday morning and taken into custody.

His case was transferred to Southwark Crown Court in London, where he is scheduled to appear on June 13.

Brown’s representative didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from The Associated Press.

Brown, often called by his nickname Breezy, burst onto the music scene as a teen in 2005 and has become a major hitmaker over the years with notable songs such as “Run It,” “Kiss Kiss” and “Without You.”

He won his first Grammy for best R&B album in 2011 for “F.A.M.E.” then earned his second gold trophy in the same category for “11:11 (Deluxe)” earlier this year.

The singer is due to launch an international tour next month with artists Jhene Aiko, Summer Walker and Bryson Tiller, opening with a European leg before starting North America shows in July.

FILE - In this June 7, 2015 file photo, Chris Brown performs at the 2015 Hot 97 Summer Jam at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - In this June 7, 2015 file photo, Chris Brown performs at the 2015 Hot 97 Summer Jam at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (Photo by Scott Roth/Invision/AP, File)

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