"We have high quality and intensity in training and we always try to go to the limit," said Kevin Volland: "But we also need a break to be able to give 100% the next day." In practice that meant on Friday: time off in the morning, passing drills, shooting and practising various moves in the afternoon.
The pitch in Zell am See did not remain empty in the first half of the day. A team of Leverkusen fans played the Bayer 04 staff in the now traditional fixture. Clear winners were the team behind the Werkself who ran up an impressive goal fest winning 19-04. The victorious team were led by sporting director Simon Rolfes and team manager Hans-Peter Lehnhoff.
For around 70 Bayer 04 supporters, the day continued at lunchtime at the team hotel Tauern Spa in Kaprun. Fernando Carro, the Bayer 04 CEO, invited the fans who had travelled to Salzburger Land for coffee and cakes on the sun terrace and he was very happy to answer numerous questions from the young and older black and red fans. Birthday boy Andreas was particularly happy when Carro presented him with a small present at the end of the round of questions. Rudi Völler also took the chance to greet the fans and thank them for their support on the ground.
A very special guest brought a broad smile to the face of Völler before the training session. Jurica Vranjes, former Croatia international and three years at Bayer 04, called into the team hotel and chatted with Völler about his time as caretaker coach in 2000. Leverkusen remained unbeaten in all five games where Völler played Vranjes in his team. Vranjes was also part of the legendary 2002 team and he played in the Champions League semi-final games against Manchester United.
At the time of those games, Panos Retsos was only three years old and Instagram had yet to be invented. In 2019 it looks completely different as can be seen in the story on @bayer04fussball. The now 20-year-old Greek takes all Werkself followers through the day and shows them a spectacular Brazilian table tennis duel between Paulinho and Wendell, a darts competition in the team room and youngsters playing FIFA. At #B04inAustria there is a host of interesting content worth watching about the Bayer 04 training camp on all social media platforms.
There is double match action on Saturday at the Alois Latini Stadium in Zell am See. The Bosz team play Premier League Watford at 15.00 CET and the second friendly against Spanish top-flight side SD Eibar kicks off at 18.30 CET. Watford, in England's top division for four years, narrowly lost 2-1 on Thursday against the Champions League semi-finalists Ajax. "They are very physical and mostly play 4-4-2," said Bosz, who watched the game with his coaching staff: "They play a completely different way from us!"
The match should certainly be worth watching. It is live on bayer04.de and on TV on Sport1 from 15.00 CET and the duel with Eibar is exclusively live on Bayer 04 TV from 18.30 CET. That match also promises to be entertaining. Bosz: "Spanish teams always want to play football tand it will be a completely different game."
All daily reports:
#B04inAustria – Day 1: Two birthdays and a 'bobble ban'
#B04inAustria – Day 2: Visit from DFB Cup winning captain
#B04inAustria - Day 3: Lars Bender confirmed as captain
#B04inAustria - Day 4: New 'master of all trades'?
Click here for gallery – The best images from day five
The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
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The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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