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Bayer Leverkusen striker Stefan Kiessling has said he will see out his contract, which runs until 2018. Kiessling, 33, had contemplated retirement last year but has decided to play another season before ending his career. He told Bild he had held "very good talks" with coach Heiko Herrlich and added: "I think that we can support each other very well." Herrlich, appointed last week, said: "My credo is: Don't ask what the club can do for you, but what you can do for the club. And Stefan Kiessling is a player who lives by that. I assume that he will continue." Kiessling has scored 144 goals in 395 Bundesliga appearances and said: "I'm keen to join the club of players with 400 league games. Now I have a chance to hit that benchmark." He started only six Bundesliga matches last season, scoring four league goals in 20 appearances, but said: "Now that Omer Toprak and Roberto Hilbert have left the club, it is important that we have leaders in the team." Kiessling could play a bigger role for Leverkusen in the forthcoming season, with the future of Javier "Chicharito" Hernandez still unclear. The Mexico international has 12 months left on his deal but could leave after Leverkusen missed out on European football. He has been linked with Lyon, but agent Eduardo Hernandez said earlier this week: "There's nothing new for the moment. Chicharito hasn't decided anything yet."
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