Bernd, first of all many happy returns and all the best from Leverkusen. How are you spending this special day?
Leno: Thank you. Friends from Germany have come over specially. We’ll definitely drink something, enjoy the time together and have fun.
You've had a good ten years in professional football. How do you look back at your career to date?
Leno: It was a very successful time and I couldn't have imagined that in my dreams. I've won the FA Cup with Arsenal and the Confed Cup with Germany. But it's also clear it's not all over. I hope I've got a few more good years in front of me.
You became a professional player at Leverkusen. What are your memories of your early years at Bayer?
Leno: Only good ones. I can remember the first day exactly: I went into the dressing room and nobody knew who I was. Nevertheless, Kies and Simse (Stefan Kießling and Simon Rolfes, ed.) plus other players gave me a great reception and helped me straightaway. That made it very easy for me. I also felt very welcome by the fans. That helps a young player enormously. So, today I’m very grateful to the fans and the staff at the club.
What are your targets for the future on and off the pitch?
Leno: I want to play professional football at least until my mid 30s – and happily even longer if my body’s up to it. As long as I can enjoy football I'll stick at it and always do my best. Also I want to gain more experience. I'm always open to new adventures – as with this Premier League adventure. Those are experiences for life.
The Werkself are away to Bayern Munich tomorrow. What will be the decisive in this game?
Leno: The lads should play like they have done in the past few weeks – like they did against Dortmund and Bielefeld. Of course, Bayern are very strong but not unbeatable. Bayer are incredibly good in attack, they are comfortable on the ball and well organised. On top of that, there's the individual quality in attack. They've got it all.
The Europa League draw threw up Atalanta and Bayer 04 head to Italy next week. How do you rate the chances for the Werkself in the two Round of 16 games?
Leno: It's a difficult draw, Atalanta were one of the big teams in the draw in my opinion. But if Bayer produce a performance in both games then they should definitely go through. I'm confident.
Finally: What do you wish for in the coming year?
Leno: Good health for everybody and normality again in the world at last.
The Werkself conceded a goal at home for the first time since the beginning of January 67 minutes into the game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Jarell Quansah levelled late on for the final score of 1-1 to secure a point and avoid a first home defeat in six games. Bayer 04 were very critical of their performance after the game. The Werkself review.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').
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