Ahead of the clash with the already safe Mainz, the Dutchman declared: "We don't need to think about what's happening on the pitch at Gladbach. We have to win our game. And then we'll see if that's enough in the end."
In the best-case scenario, the Werkself will be happy to repeat the drama of the final matchday of the 2018/19 league campaign: Back then, the Black and Reds qualified for the Champions League with an emphatic 5-1 win against Hertha Berlin and a 2-0 defeat for Gladbach against Borussia Dortmund. "We showed then what is possible," said Bosz.
Good news: Ahead of the game with Mainz, the 56-year-old coach can select his team from his whole squad with the exception of Aleksandar Dragovic who is currently serving a one-match ban. Karim Bellarabi and captain Lars Bender returned to training with the team on Friday following injury. Bosz explained: "We'll see who plays tomorrow. Our only interest is definitely winning the match."
The team coached by Achim Beierlorzer have already secured their top-flight status with two recent wins at Dortmund (2-0) and fellow relegation candidates Werder Bremen (3-1). Bosz does not believe Mainz will let the season end with a whimper. The Werkself coach commenting on tomorrow's opponents: "They played very well against us in our narrow win earlier in the season (1-0 ed.). Mainz have some interesting players and a good team."
Match information:
Broadcasters: Sky and Werkself Radio (bayer04.de)
Referee: The referee will be announced on the day of the game
Panagiotis, known as Panos, Retsos wore the Bayer 04 jersey for three years. Including his loan spells, he was under contract with the Werkself for a total of four and a half years. "It's a very special club for me," said the 27-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club Olympiacos in 2022, in an interview with bayer04.de. The former Leverkusen man is now captain and a first choice for the Werkself's next opponents in the UEFA Champions League. Ahead of the clash on Tuesday night, 20 January (kick-off: 21:00 CET), Retsos talks about his fond memories of his time in Leverkusen and the imminent reunion with some of his former team-mates. He also talks about who brought him to Leverkusen and why he likes getting older.
Show more
Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without goalkeeper Mark Flekken and forward Nathan Tella for the time being.
Show more
After a week in the Algarve, the Bayer 04 Women returned home on Saturday afternoon. The Werkself had six training sessions, two friendlies and a lot of time together as a team. Roberto Pätzold's team will be back in action in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga next Friday for the start of matchday 15.
Show more
"We didn’t make the right decision at the right moments," said captain Robert Andrich after the 1-0 defeat away to TSG Hoffenheim, where Bayer 04 endeavoured to control the game but failed to score. The Werkself also had two enforced substitutions due to injuries. Nevertheless, the coach, captain and debutant Janis Blaswich are positive about the coming weeks. The Werkself review.
Show more
