After a strenuous an intensive week of training, the players had a later start to the day. After breakfast it was start of preparations for the Lazio match with a video and team meeting. That was followed by packing bags, a final lunch at the team hotel Tauern Spa and off into the team bus headed for Grödig. The hotel could return to quieter normality. But have no fear, Bayer 04 will return in the summer of 2018 for the next pre-season.
Just before lunch, Bayer 04 head coach Heiko Herrlich took time out to review events in Zell am See with the media. Overall, the coach was very happy with the training camp. "It's been a hard week of training. We had two intensive sessions every day up to Friday. I felt all the players were ready to get fully involved without any complaints," said a positive Heiko Herrlich.
There was one last challenge before the Bayer 04 group could start the return journey back home. The Werkself played their sixth friendly of the pre-season in Grödig near Salzburg in the afternoon. And it was a game against team that finished fifth in Serie A last term, Lazio. With Bayer 04 sporting director Rudi Völler and sporting manager Jonas Boldt looking on, the Werkself felt the effects of the rigours of the past seven days and the high temperatures that led to a disappointing 3-1 defeat.
After a shower and an evening meal it was off in the team bus to the nearby Salzburg Airport for the charter flight to Cologne/Bonn airport. That was the final chapter of the visit to Austria in 2017. Charles Aránguiz returns on Monday for performance tests and Heiko Herrlich will lead the next training session on Wednesday.
In mid-August, the Werkself will set off on a four-day trip to England to play their final two friendly matches of the 2026/27 pre-season against Premier League clubs Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. The match in Nottingham against the Tricky Trees is on Wednesday 12 August at 20:45 CEST (19:45 BST) at the City Ground. The game against the Magpies in Newcastle is on Saturday 15 August at 16:00 CEST (15:00 BST) at the atmospheric St James’ Park. Details on ticket sales for both matches.
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Black and Red talent development at the highest level – even off the pitch: Apprentices Jule Suermann, Leandra Bellia and Julia Niederheide have successfully completed their two- or three-year apprenticeships at the club. Bayer 04 honoured the trio at the BayArena on Tuesday.
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The Werkself return tomorrow, Tuesday 14 July (from 11:00 CEST at the BayArena; live stream on bayer04.de, the Bayer 04 app and YouTube), with new head coach Carles Martínez leading his first training session as part of the Bayer 04 set-up. His coaching team comprises a mix of new and long-standing colleagues.
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The Germany U19 team were beaten 2-0 by record champions Spain in the final of the U19 European Championship in Wales. Bayer 04 players Montrell Culbreath and Francis Onyeka (on loan at SV 07 Elversberg) were in the starting line-up and played the full 90 minutes.
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