"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
Former Werkself star Michael Ballack, who won the German Footballer of the Year award in 2002 while playing in Leverkusen, celebrates his 50th birthday on Saturday. Bayer 04 sends him its best wishes!
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Attention Werkself fans: In addition to tickets for the floodlit home match against Werder Bremen, tickets are now also available for the Bayer 04 women’s team’s two subsequent fixtures against Eintracht Frankfurt and Hamburger SV at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Both matches in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga will take place at family-friendly kick-off times on Saturday afternoons. Here is the latest information on matchday ticket sales.
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Guéla Doué’s first 30 minutes in a Bayer 04 shirt during the draw away at Augsburg have definitely made the summer signing eager for more. The 23-year-old may have had to bide his time following his move from Strasbourg due to a muscular injury, but he’s been able to get a good taste of the BayArena atmosphere while watching from the stands in the home wins over Celje and RB Leipzig, as the Ivory Coast international explained in a chat with media representatives. “The fans’ enthusiasm and passion are incredible,” said Doué, looking forward to what lies ahead. The defender also spoke about his plans for a comeback, his teammates and his younger brother Désiré.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen welcomes a new official member to the Sponsors’ Club at the start of the 2026/27 campaign. KKV Kabelverlegung GmbH & Co. KG is expanding its existing partnership and will, with immediate effect, act as a supporter of the Bundesliga club at the second-highest partner level, just below the premium tier. As an official partner in the Sponsors’ Club, KKV will now enjoy significantly enhanced visibility during Werkself matches at the BayArena. The new contract is initially valid until 30 June 2028.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen has extended the existing partnership agreement with EDO Personalservice GmbH and, at the same time, expanded its collaboration with the Cologne-based company. The official partner in the Business Club has been upgraded within Bayer 04’s partner network. The revised and enhanced support for the club has initially been agreed for two years, running until 30 June 2028.
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