Back
26.08.2022Werkself-TV

Seoane before #M05B04: “Focus is on defensive work”

The Werkself are away at Mainz on Saturday, 27 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST) for Matchday 4 in the Bundesliga. It sees Gerardo Seoane and his side take on a host who are still unbeaten this season (W2, D1) and fourth in the table. The 43-year-old spoke at his press conference on Friday about what the team worked on in training during the week and the importance of defensive work for the meeting at the MEWA Arena.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

Seoane appeared pleased with training over the past week. He said the team had worked with great concentration and focus over the past few days. “We’ve tried to tackle the negative situation together. You can only reproduce a Bundesliga matchday in small sequences in training, but I felt lots of motivation and energy to work on the game plan together after the disappointment.”

Challenges, communication, mentality

In terms of the on-field aspects, the areas of challenges, communication and mentality were tackled: “It needs a hint more from everyone in the current situation in terms of these points,” the Swiss coach added. “We have to show willingness, above all in challenges, accepting the rigorousness and supporting each other.”

They want to remain loyal to their attacking play, but the current focus has clearly been on defending. “Obviously we want to excite the spectators, score lots of goals and have greater vigour in attack, but we can only do that when we work in a compact, determined and aggressive way against the ball beforehand,” continued Seoane, who also says that these include shoring up against the counter, an organised covering defence and clearer positioning after turnovers.

Seoane: “Mainz play with confidence”

The 43-year-old has a clear goal for tomorrow’s game against Mainz: “We have to turn our words into actions and implement the things we’ve planned and trained.” Seoane believes the opposition is assured and determined: “Mainz play with confidence, especially at home, and play with a healthy dose of rigorousness and force. We want to stand up against that and play out our own situations well.”

unchanged squad

Seoane expects to be able to draw upon the same squad as last weekend’s loss to Hoffenheim. Charles Aranguiz has trained individually due to muscular complaints but was again able to work with the team yesterday. If the Chilean midfielder has no problems in Friday’s final session, he’ll be available on Saturday.

The Werkself have sold 1,614 tickets for the game at the MEWA Arena and are looking forward to great support in Mainz.

Related News

Kurzpässe vor #MCIB04
Champions League - 25.11.2025

Matchday news #MCIB04: First meeting with unbeaten Manchester City

The Werkself face Manchester City for the very first time on Tuesday for Matchday 5 of the league phase in the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League (kick-off: 21:00 CET). The hosts sit fourth in the standings and boast huge quality in attack, while Leverkusen are looking to improve their meagre record of just one win from the last 10 games away at English clubs. A key player in that regard could be Aleix Garcia, the former City midfielder who ranks highly in several passing metrics in the Champions League this season. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.

Show more
crop_20251125_JS_MCIB04_MD_0996.jpg
Champions League - 25.11.2025

Live blog: The Werkself away to Manchester City ✈️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

The Werkself's next European trip takes them to the north-west of England as Kasper Hjulmand's side take on Manchester City on Tuesday, 25 November (kick-off: 21:00 CET) on Matchday 5 in the league phase of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign. As usual, we'll take you along on the #aCROSSeurope journey and report from Manchester. All times listed are in CET.

Show more
Erling Haaland für Manchester City
Champions League - 24.11.2025

Our next opponents: A force of nature and many more aces in attack

The dress rehearsal in the Premier League for the match against the Werkself did not go well at the weekend. However, Manchester City are still unbeaten in the UEFA Champions League, the competition they won in 2023. In the first encounter with Bayer 04 this Tuesday, 25 November (kick-off: 21:00 CET), coach Pep Guardiola will be able to field just about his best line-up. The lowdown on our next opponents.

Show more
Jonah Berghoff in der UEFA Youth League
U19 - 24.11.2025

Youth League clash at Manchester City: 'Big challenge we want to tackle in the best possible way'

Will the Bayer 04 U19s take the next step towards their first appearance in the knockout stage of the UEFA Youth League in the away game at Manchester City? Coach Kevin Brok is well aware of this historic opportunity, but he's not about to start worrying about the maths: "We're not concerned with the question of what might be good enough. We invest everything we can and always aim for the maximum. That's our way." The game on this penultimate Matchday 5 of the league phase takes place on Tuesday, 25 November (kick-off: 16:00 CET) at the Manchester City Academy Stadium. Werkself TV will be broadcasting the whole match exclusively for Bayer 04 club members live from 15:50 CET....

Show more
U19 von Bayer 04 spendet mit UEFA an die Tafel Leverkusen
Social Commitment - 23.11.2025

Donation of cash and food: U19s support Leverkusen food bank

€1,000 and food for a good cause: In keeping with the long-standing cooperation between Bayer 04 and the Tafel Leverkusen e.V. food bank, the U19s are also supporting the charitable organisation in the region. In addition to the generous cheque the team were able to donate to an organisation of their choice as a result of their participation in the UEFA Youth League, coach Kevin Brok's lads donated €500 worth of food - financed by their own team kitty. Ferdinand Pohl, Jesper Schlich and Co. also actively helped to stow the food in the Tafel's premises.

Show more