The two recent poor performances are still in mind and the disappointment suitably great. “But now we have the next game straight away. On the one hand, it’s good to be playing again so quickly but, on the other, we don’t have much time to prepare,” said Bosz at the pre-match press conference. His team has to rediscover the form shown in the games against Bayern Munich, Schalke 04 and Juventus. Bosz: “Those games proved we can do better. We have to perform like that again tomorrow.”
The next opponents for Bayer 04 have just gone through the first change of coaches this term: Nine points from eleven games saw the departure of Sandro Schwarz and his successor Achim Beierlorzer (formerly at FC Köln) has secured three wins in his first five matches in charge – including the 5-1 victory over Hoffenheim and the 5-0 win at Werder Bremen. “Those are good results. We can expect a tough but very interesting game,”, said Bosz.
After the recent defeats, there was criticism of Bayer 04 playmaker Kai Havertz. His substitution in the home game Hertha was met with jeers from some members of the crowd of the BayArena. “I can’t understand it. Since I’ve been here, people have talked about the Bayer 04 family. For me, that is the fans, players and staff. Everybody together. There were a few people who booed but it wasn’t the whole stadium. But I would never have a go at my family. It doesn’t help the team,” declared Bosz.
The Dutchman added: “The lad is from our own youth teams and he’s already given this club so much – although he is still very young. He can have a bad game. I told him that when he gets back on track – and I’m convinced of that –, he will be stronger than before.”
1,600 travelling fans will support the Werkself in the last game of the year. Bosz, who will choose his squad after the final pre-match training session, concluded: “Tomorrow we have the chance to partly make amends. The points are important if we want to moving up before Christmas. We’ll try to win at Mainz.”
Match information:
TV broadcaster: Sky
Referee: Patrick Ittrich
Tickets: Away tickets are sale at the ground from 12.30 CET
Former Bundesliga and Germany keeper Manfred Manglitz, who was promoted to the Oberliga West with Bayer 04 in 1962, passed away on Monday at the age of 86.
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Following the summer break of around two months, the Bayer 04 first team squad took to the training pitches at the BayArena for the first time on Tuesday – and the players were in high spirits. Alongside the newly formed coaching team led by head coach Carles Martínez, new signing Afonso Moreira also completed his first session with the squad. In front of several hundred Bayer 04 fans at the open session, numerous Werkself players worked up a good sweat. The Leverkusen players who took part in the World Cup will join pre-season training at a later date.
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In mid-August, the Werkself will set off on a four-day trip to England to play their final two friendly matches of the 2026/27 pre-season against Premier League clubs Nottingham Forest and Newcastle United. The match in Nottingham against the Tricky Trees is on Wednesday 12 August at 20:45 CEST (19:45 BST) at the City Ground. The game against the Magpies in Newcastle is on Saturday 15 August at 16:00 CEST (15:00 BST) at the atmospheric St James’ Park. Details on ticket sales for both matches.
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