'FCT' is an abbreviation that has caused one or other footballer to begin sweating before the start of a training session. Understandably so. Football conditioning training is about pushing the players to their physical limits and maximising their fitness. As with this morning, when Peter Bosz divided his players up into three teams with seven outfield players to play matches against each other. After the warm-up and a range of passing drills and positional moves, the games lasted for 40 minutes: yellow against red, yellow against blue and blue against red. The games lasted three minutes each with rolling subs. Under blue skies with a temperature of 26 degrees. No effort was spared. Urged on by Peter Bosz and his assistants Hendrie Krüzen and Xaver Zembrod on the touchlines. It lasted until the players started to clearly appear tired.
"The fact several players were laid out on the ground at the end shows they gave 100 per cent," said the satisfied Dutchman afterwards. "We are working with different players – what the limit is for one player is perhaps too little for the next or even too much. That's why several players completed sprints beforehand. We have to try and differentiate and find the right balance. And I think we achieved that today," said Bosz. No pain, no gain. Many a Werkself pro can be delighted to have survived the toughest session of the week. The mini tournament was won by the red team consisting of Niklas Lomb, Ayman Azhil, Lars Bender (Cem Türkmen), Karim Bellarabi, Aleksandar Dragovic, Joel Pohjanpalo and Daley Sinkgraven.
Rudi Völler joined the Bayer 04 group around midday. The sporting managing director of Bayer 04 arrived at the team hotel just before lunch. The route would not have been a problem for him as the former sporting director has been present every year since the first visit in 2013. "We all feel very much at home here," said the 59-year-old who was more than happy to field questions from the media representatives. Possible transfer activity was the main interest. "We made the most important decisions a couple of weeks ago," said Völler talking about the transfer of Kerem Demirbay and the retention of Kai Havertz. "Everything else we are doing now is fine tuning. Where can we improve? How can we strengthen?" Those questions are occupying the management at the moment who, according to the 1990 World Cup winner, are united: "We've more to do yet."
Another familiar face called in on the Werkself on Tuesday: Franco Foda, captain of the DFB Cup winning side of 1993. Since 2018 he has been working with the former Stuttgart man Imre Szabics in coaching the Austrian national team with Julian Baumgartlinger and Aleksandar Dragovic established members of that squad. Foda and Szabics not only dropped in on the morning session at the Alois Latini Stadium but also visited the team HQ to meet up with their international charges in the lobby.
Talking about Julian Baumgartlinger. While his team-mates had time off after lunch, Baumi continued to work on his comeback. After the 31-year-old suffered inflamation in his foot, the Austria captain has had to ease off and is still not able to take part in full training. Nevertheless, he joined the trip to his home country to work on his return alongside his team-mates. The Werkself number 15 worked in the hotel fitness facilities; in the afternoon he completed a 70-minute special session with the ball under the guidance of head physio Sven Elsinger.
The time, where Baumi was working hard in the afternoon sun over the Salzburger Land, was used by others to be active on the pitch. The Black and Red team assistants formed a group that put on their boots along with sporting director Simon Rolfes and team manager Hans-Peter Lehnhoff for a kick-about at the Alois Latini Stadium. The two former midfielders and Bayer 04 legends again amply demonstrated they have not forgotten anything about playing the game.
After back-to-back away defeats, Bayer 04 Women now face their penultimate home fixture of 2026 as they welcome Hamburg to the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion on Saturday (14:00 CET) seeking three important points in the Google Pixel Bundesliga.
Show more
Several Werkself players are set to represent their national teams during the final international break of 2026. Here’s an overview of who has been called up and what matches they will face in November. This article will be updated regularly.
Show more
After three consecutive wins in the Europa League, the Werkself suffered their first European defeat of the season against Marseille. In a first half with few chances, the Black and Reds gradually gained more and more control of the game, but were unable to convert that advantage into goals. Miguel Gutiérrez came closest to putting Leverkusen ahead with a shot that hit the crossbar. In the second half, the French side produced clinical finishing, with Amine Gouiri scoring from a counter-attack to make it 1-0 (77’). Right up to the final whistle, the Werkself threw everything forward in search of an equaliser, but were unable to find a way back into the game.
Show more
Bayer 04 are riding a wave of success on the European stage: After three wins from their first three games and as the only team yet to concede a goal, the Werkself sit second in the table in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League. With another three points in their first-ever competitive match against Olympique Marseille on Thursday night, 5 November (kick-off: 21:00 CET), Bayer 04 could leap to the top of the table. Meanwhile, the French side are riding the wave of a winning streak in Ligue 1, but are yet to pick up any points in the Europa League. For one Werkself player, Thursday night will mark a reunion with his former team-mates. Today’s matchday news.
Show more
The Bundesliga has finalised the fixtures for matchdays 12 to 18 of the 2026/27 season. Here is an overview of the dates.
Show more
