
“Florian has far exceeded our great expectations in his first year with the first team,” declared Bayer 04 sporting managing director Rudi Völler. “The confidence he’s shown in the Bundesliga and on the European stage in the Europa League has been impressive. If he carries on working and continues his development in the same way then Florian will definitely have a great career.”
Simon Rolfes watched Wirtz on his way to becoming a professional early on in various youth teams. “Florian’s current’s performances make us feel even more convinced of our assessment that he can become a special player,” said the Leverkusen sporting director. “Flo is already an important part in our team. I’m looking forward to the coming years with him.”
For Florian Wirtz , “my fast integration into an absolute top squad was fantastic motivation. The way the coaching staff and the team accepted me and how the club management looked after me – it was all totally impressive,” admitted the Germany U21 international. “I’m playing in a great team here and I really believe we can win something. We’re on the right track and I can see that in all the training sessions.”


Sandwiched between their UEFA Champions League knockout play-off tie against Olympiacos, Bayer 04 return to Bundesliga action on Saturday with a trip to Union Berlin (kick-off: 15:30 CET). It’s a fixture of contrasting styles, with Leverkusen preferring to control the play while Union look to remain compact and counter. The Berliners are therefore suited to facing top teams, but they have only ever managed to win one of 16 meetings with the Werkself, who are looking for a fifth clean sheet of 2026 but will need to beware the home side’s threat from set pieces. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
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After six wins in seven games, the Werkself will be looking to continue their winning run in the capital at FC Union Berlin. Coach Kasper Hjulmand spoke ahead of the match on Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET) about defenders, the short preparation time and the condition of the pitch at the Stadion An der Alten Försterei.
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Union Berlin have performed particularly well against the top clubs in the Bundesliga this season with a draw at home to Bayern Munich and wins against VfB Stuttgart and RB Leipzig. This Saturday, 21 February (kick-off: 15:30 CET), the Irons now welcome the Werkself, currently sixth in the table, to the Stadion An der Alten Försterei. And the hosts are in desperate need of a win. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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It took exactly 60 minutes for the Werkself to take the lead through a perfectly finished counter-attack by Patrik Schick in the first leg of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League play-off at Olympiacos. Referring to the meeting in the league phase and the initially squandered opportunities, coach Kasper Hjulmand said afterwards: "I thought: 'Oh no, déjà-vu.'" But after the opening goal, it took just 144 seconds for the Czech to spark more wild celebrations among those in black and red in the Greek cauldron, when Schick nodded in Alejandro Grimaldo's corner. Much to the delight of the Bayer 04 fans, his teammates and his coach, who had warm words for the striker in the aftermath. The Werkself Review.
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