…his past few weeks and months: We had a three-week break after the end of the Bundesliga season before we started preparing for the Champions League finals tournament. Then I had a couple of days off before starting to train again.
…the time Schick had to spend in quarantine: One of my Czech Republic teammates had a positive test for coronavirus. Several people from the team then had to go into quarantine – that included me. After the coronavirus tests proved negative for me, I was allowed to leave Prague and fly to Germany.
…first impressions in Leverkusen: I signed the contract after the medical – and today was the first training session. I'm very happy to be here. I've got to know my teammates and everybody's been really nice. The first training session went perfectly – the pitches are in good condition and the recovery options are outstanding. Everything you need to produce good performances is here.
…his decision to sign for Bayer 04: I had positive experiences at Leipzig. That's why I wanted to stay in the Bundesliga. Leverkusen have the same quality as Leipzig. The club are very ambitious and have an attractive, attacking style of play. I like that.
...the influence of his Czech Republic fellow countryman Michal Kadlec, who played for the Werkself from 2008 to 2013: I talked to him about Leverkusen in the run-up to the move. He said very positive things about the club and he helped me make the decision to come here.
…his current fitness level: Due to the time in quarantine, today's training was the first for me in around ten days. I think the cup game against Norderstedt (13 September, ed.) has come too soon for me. I have to start slowly and rediscover my form. I think I'll be ready for the first Bundesliga game at Wolfsburg.
…his targets with the Werkself: I want to play in the Champions League with Leverkusen. I'll fight as much as I can to achieve that target and I'd like to score as many goals as possible along the way.
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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Kasper Hjulmand has led the Werkself back to winning ways and is back in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League with Bayer 04 after the 3-0 win against Villarreal on Wednesday evening. In an interview with the Werkself magazine at the BayArena in the team meeting room, directly opposite the dressing room, he provided some special insights for the current issue, which was published in January. A conversation with the 53-year-old coach about values, attitudes and personal experiences as well as interests outside of football.
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The thrilling 3-1 win for Bayer 04 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Hinrunde is a fond memory for Alejandro Grimaldo, with his brace from free kicks, and coach Kasper Hjulmand, who was in the dugout under the Cross for the first time. Now comes the return fixture in the metropolis on the River Main and after going out of the DFB Pokal and the Champions League, the full focus at Eintracht, currently managed by two interim coaches, is now on the Bundesliga. For their part, the Werkself will do everything in their power to continue the longest winning run against a Bundesliga club. The matchday news.
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Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
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The draw for the knockout play-offs of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League was made on Friday, 30 January and saw Bayer 04 paired with Olympiacos. It’s a reunion with the Greek side following the Werkself’s 2-0 loss in Athens on Matchday 7 of the league phase.
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