Rudi Voller, Bayer Leverkusen's director of sport, believes they have come of age and will not make the mistake they have done in recent seasons when the Bundesliga recommences next month.

Bayer have developed a habit of starting a campaign well only to fall away during its second half, but the former Germany striker is optimistic and believes his side is good enough to finish inside the top three in 2010/11.

A club like Bayer wants to play in Europe, every year. The Europa League is the minimum aim, and if possible we want to get into the Champions League.
Rudi Voller, Bayer Leverkusen's director of sport

"Of course we had the problem last season that we drew 14 matches, but we have improved now," he told Kicker magazine. "We are certainly not going to repeat that again.

"A club like Bayer wants to play in Europe, every year. We belong to a group of seven or eight Bundesliga clubs with this very same ambition. The Europa League is the minimum aim, and if possible we want to get into the Champions League."

Bayer start 2011 with a top-of-the-table clash against Borussia Dortmund on 14 January. They currently trail the league leaders by ten points, but were one of only two teams, along with Eintracht Frankfurt, to beat Jurgen Klopp's side in the first half of the season.

"We want to be the first team to beat Dortmund twice this season," said Voller. "I'll say it diplomatically: we want to get into the Champions League and there is going to be enough competition, and not only from Dortmund and Munich."