"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
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
Show more
Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
Show more
Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
Show more
Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
Show more
