Back
12.07.2018Bayer 04

Trio set to return to full training

Holidays are now over for Jonathan Tah, Julian Baumgartlinger and Aleksandar Dragovic too. A week after the official start of pre-season training at Bayer 04, the trio started preparing for the new campaign on Thursday morning and tomorrow they will join the first team squad on the training ground. Due to their international duties at the end of the season the three players were given an additional week's leave by coach Heiko Herrlich.
Leistungsdiagnostik_20180712_0068.jpg

"The holidays were long enough to recover mentally and physically. I'm looking forward to getting started again," said Baumgartlinger ahead of numerous physical examinations (e.g. blood, eyes) plus balance and mobility tests. Tah and Dragovic, who returns to the Werkself after the end of his loan spell at Leicester City, followed the instructions of the medics, physios, coaches and sport scientists  at the Werkstatt. Above all, at the concluding spiroergometry test, performance measurements on the treadmill, the Werkself trio gave their all, which is why Baumgartlinger talked about an "intensive start." After four hours of tests the trio were able to shower. "Nobody really likes these checks and performance tests but they are obviously important. And now we've done it," was Tah's assessment of proceedings.

The three returnees will train with the rest of the squad for the first this summer on Friday (16.00 CET, live on bayer04.de) before Herrlich's players embark on three training sessions on Saturday (10.30 and 16.00 CET) and Sunday (10.30 CET). "The break was longer than normal for us due to the World Cup – now I can hardly wait to play football again, " said Tah.

The first pre-season friendly for the Black and Reds is next Wednesday (18.00 CET) against SV Roßbach/Verscheid.

 

Related News

Premium-Partner DRIVIO
Business - 03.09.2026

New premium partner for Bayer 04: DRIVIO keeps Werkself on the road

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have secured a new premium partner in the form of DRIVIO. DRIVIO, already part of the club’s partner portfolio as a reliable car subscription partner for Bayer 04, will continue to support the club in this capacity and, with immediate effect, also join the premium group of companies that cooperate closely with the Werkself. The premium and car subscription partnership between Bayer 04 Leverkusen and DRIVIO will initially run until 30 June 2027.

Show more
Maja Sternad am Ball
Women - 02.09.2026

Bayer 04 Women ‘fully convinced of squad’s quality’ ahead of Hoffenheim visit

Following last weekend’s big game against Wolfsburg, Bayer 04 Women face another exciting challenge as they visit Hoffenheim to kick off Matchday 3 in the Google Pixel Bundesliga on Friday (kick-off: 18:30 CEST).

Show more
Sommercamp „Ferien ohne Krieg“
Bayer 04 - 02.09.2026

‘Holidays without war’: Bayer 04, TSV and Bayer AG support summer camp for children from Ukraine

Under the slogan ‘Holidays without War’, 60 children from war-torn Ukraine took part in the summer camp organised by the German-Ukrainian association Blau-Gelbes Kreuz in Leverkusen and the surrounding area in August. The children aged between 10 and 14 – many of whom have lost their parents in the war – come from the Ukrainian twin towns of Leverkusen, Cologne and Monheim am Rhein: Nikopol, Dnipro and Volodymyr. Bayer 04, Bayer AG and TSV Bayer 04 supported the camp to mark its 10th anniversary, enabling even more children and young people than in previous years to spend a few carefree days’ holiday away from the war in the Rhineland.

Show more
Ruby Grant verlässt Bayer 04
Women - 01.09.2026

Ruby Grant joins Sporting CP

Midfielder Ruby Grant is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and joining Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP a year before her contract expires. The 24-year-old has been at the Werkself since January 2025.

Show more
Guéla Doué: Erstes Interview - auf dem Dach der BayArena!
Werkself-TV - 01.09.2026

Guéla Doué: First interview – on the BayArena roof!

New to Leverkusen and straight up onto the roof at the BayArena: Guéla Doué has arrived. In an interview with Werkself TV, the new right-back talks about his previous links with Bayer 04 and how much he’s looking forward to his first home match. Have a look!

Show more