The 22-year-old gave his first interview on Bayer 04 TV yesterday and today he was interviewed by journalists after his first training session. "I'm just really happy to finally be at Bayer 04 – here you have everything you want. My aim is to settle in, give my all and quickly integrate with the team," said Amiri. The first training session with his new team-mates gave him the taste for more. "It's a great group here with lots of young and hungry players," said the former Hoffenheim player.
The new Werkself number 11 certainly put in a shift in his first session: Peter Bosz and his fellow coaches once again prepared a high-intensity session – with lots of sprints and finally a competitive training match. "It was really very tough today," declared Amiri. No wonder that most of the Werkself players were laid out on their backs taking a breather after a tough 90-minute work out before the communal finish.
In addition to Amiri, Charles Aránguiz was also back on the training ground after yesterday taking part in full training for the first time following his extended holiday due to his participation in the Copa America. Three players were out injured on Wednesday. Mitchell Weiser, Lars Bender and Joel Pohjanpalo. Julian Baumgartlinger was also missing as he was rested. The Austrian should – after the day off on Thursday – return to training with team on Friday. Moussa Diaby completed a one-to-one session with fitness coach Daniel Jouvain on a neighbouring pitch.
Young Werkself fans could hardly wait for the summer holidays. Once again, the Bayer 04 Soccer School summer camp was open. Hundreds of football crazy youngsters have taken part in the camps this summer where they enjoyed their favourite pastime and learned one or two new tricks. The youngsters spend a week at Bayer 04 and are coached under professional conditions. A highlight of the camp for years: A Werkself pro calls in on the kids. Last week it was the turn of Kerem Demirbay and this Wednesday saw Daley Sinkgraven appear as a guest at the media centre in the BayArena. He received a great and vocal reception from the camp participants. The Werkself new signing took his place on the top table where the Werkself number 22 was peppered with questions from the kids in the style of a real press conference. When all the questions had been answered, it was time for an autograph or a selfie. And it ended with a group photograph being taken as a memento.
Kasper Hjulmand managed 1. FSV Mainz 05 during the 2014/15 season. Now he returns to the MEWA ARENA as head coach of Bayer 04 Leverkusen on Saturday 18 October (kick-off 15:30 CEST). The record against the 05ers as well as the hosts' underwhelming start to the season favour the Werkself, but other stats and comments reveal a battling Mainz side who are determined to get back on track. The Matchday News brings you the latest ahead of the Bundesliga Matchday 7 clash.
Show moreBayer 04 Women have less than 72 hours to recover from the rearranged derby against Köln. Coach Roberto Pätzold's side host VfL Wolfsburg, who are level on points, in a crunch match at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion on Sunday (kick-off 17:15 CEST).
Show moreBayer 04 return from the international break with a trip to Mainz in the Bundesliga on Saturday. Ahead of the Matchday 7 fixture, head coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke at his press conference on Friday about the 05ers, returning to his former club and provided a fitness update on the squad.
Show moreMainz were one of the surprise packages of last season as their power football earned them a sixth-place finish a return to Europe after nine years with qualification for the UEFA Conference League. Things aren’t going as well for the 05ers this term, as they prepare to host Bayer 04 on Matchday 7 in the Bundesliga still searching for a positive result at home.
Show moreA group of journalists representing Latin American and Spanish-language media outlets visited the BayArena on Thursday for an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Bayer 04 and interviews with key personnel that have driven the team’s brand to new heights internationally over the last few years.
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