Gerardo Seoane and his fellow coaches welcomed 13 outfield players and two goalkeepers to training pitch number one in windy yet dry conditions. However, not all of them completed the session. In view of the weekend without a game – the Werkself are only back in action on 17 October with a match against Bayern Munich – the focus was on controlling workloads and recovering from slight knocks.
Seoane explained Panos Retsos had "twisted his knee slightly when shooting" in the pre-match training session ahead of the clash in Bielefeld. The Greece defender was on the bench in case of emergencies in the game at the SchücoArena. While no serious injury had been identified, the 23-year-old did not take part on Wednesday as a precaution. Seoane: "We can control the workloads more specifically in individual training. He should be back to normal next week."
And Timothy Fosu-Mensah, who suffered a torn cruciate at the start of March, is also currently working on his own on the training ground – on Wednesday with fitness coach Daniel Jouvin. On the current situation with the Dutch right-back, Seoane said: "He will train with the team again in small sections in two or three weeks – I'm thinking of passing drills, for example." Fosu-Mensah could return to action from November. "However, it's important to us to reintroduce the player gradually after such a long time on the sidelines."
Edmond Tapsoba is closer to a possible comeback. The central defender suffered a torn ankle ligament in July. After weeks of rehab training, he rejoined his teammates on the pitch today for part of the session – without any physical contact. "We will work that way for the whole week so that he can regain confidence in his foot," explained Seoane, who took the Burkina Faso international under his wing in the second half of the training session.
Away from the drills with the other Werkself players, the Swiss coach took the number 12 to one side for individual instructions and to show him running and passing moves. "We're trying to show him the runs we expect for example when winning possession or in the box," said Seoane.
Tapsoba should be able to take part in further training with the team next week. The defender could be an option for the home game against Bayern Munich (17 October, kick-off: 15.30 CEST) but Seoane does not envisage him making a quick return to the starting line-up: "Of course, he's lacking physically and also with certain approaches to the game by the team."
Four youth players took part in today's training session: Defender Sadik Fofana and the versatile offensive player Ingyom Jung joined in the session and Maximilian Neutgens (U19) and Luca Novodomsky (U17) were between the sticks. U19 head coach Sven Hübscher watched the promising performances from the youth players from the touchline.
The group training on Wednesday also comprise the first-team players Jonathan Tah, Kerem Demirbay, Nadiem Amiri, Karim Bellarabi, Paulinho, Robert Andrich, Daley Sinkgraven and Emrehan Gedikli.
While the Werkself players were at the BayArena or away with their national sides on Wednesday, the former Leverkusen player Nico Schneck celebrated his 34th birthday. After hanging up his boots, he started his training career in 2016 at Jahn Regensburg. A year later he was assistant coach to Heiko Herrlich at the Werkself. The Black and Red chapter ended in December 2018 and Schick is today assistant coach with the MSV Duisburg Women's team in the second division. Many happy returns on your birthday.
A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
Show more
On Monday evening, 8 June, around 250 people came to the Bürgerhaus Baumberg at the invitation of Bayer 04 to find out details of the new plans for the campus on Alfred-Nobel-Straße at an information event. More compact, greener and with many advantages for Monheim am Rhein - those are the aims. There were lively discussions for around three hours and some misunderstandings were cleared up.
Show more
Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
Show more
When Malik Tillman arrived at Bayer 04 Leverkusen from PSV Eindhoven last summer, he did more than just add attacking midfield strength to the team — he reconnected the club with a unique and understated American lineage that stretches back more than three decades.
Show more
Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
Show more
