Bastian, on Friday you will line up for FC Schalke 04 against the team you played for as a youngster. How does that make you feel?
Bastian Oczipka: "Games against Leverkusen are always something special for me as I've spent half my life at Bayer 04. I played for all the junior teams from the U11s upwards and then I went on to play for the first team. You don't forget things like that. I definitely still feel a certain connection to the club."
What's that connection like?
Oczipka: "Even though I'm not at all close to it I still somehow get to know about what's happening at the club. And if I've got time then I always find it interesting to follow the games."
Do you still have contact with Bayer 04 players or coaches?
Oczipka: "No, at least not with any of the players in the current team. I do still have occasional contact with my former youth coach Jörg Bittner."
What was your best moment in a Werkself shirt?
Oczipka: "I still remember winning the U19 Championship title in 2007. We played the FC Bayern U19s in the final and won 2-1 on a great stage in front of a full house at the BayArena. I even managed to score a goal – I scored the equaliser with my right foot (he laughs)."
Let's move on to your new club. What's your assessment of FC Schalke's start to the season?
Oczipka: We made a decent start but then we lost to two strong opponents. Nevertheless, I think we're very much on track after the difficulties of last season. Like Bayer 04, there's been a new start here and I see clear parallels…"
What do you mean?
Oczipka: "Both clubs failed to live up to expectations last season. A number of things changed in the summer including the arrival of a new coach. It takes time for players to adapt to the new way of playing and new philosophy, and then take it all in. If we keep working well and learn from our mistakes, and put them right, then I'm sure we'll be able to pick up points again soon. For that you need patience and calm. In that respect I think the club is on the right track."
What sort of game are you expecting at the Veltins Arena on Friday?
Oczipka: "It will be a tough challenge for both teams. I've watched several Bayer 04 games this season. Leverkusen have a very strong team and they've just played very well against HSV. But we are at home and in spite of all my sympathy for my former club I hope that we win at the end of the day."
A cracker of a semi-final at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The Bayer 04 U19 team entertain Bayern Munich on Saturday, 10 May (kick-off: 11:00 CEST/stadium opens: 10:00 CEST). In front of a home crowd, the team led by head coach Sergi Runge, who welcomes back an attacking player, is looking to build on the battling performances from the previous knockout games and "perform at the right moment." Tickets are available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the game will also be broadcast live on Sky.
Show moreBayer 04 have now gone 33 Bundesliga away games in succession without defeat and thereby equalled the record set by Bayern Munich: Jonathan Tah netted the equaliser at 2-2 in added time away to SC Freiburg on his 400th appearance for the Werkself. SCF took a 2-0 lead with a strike from Maximilian Eggestein (44') and a Piero Hincapie own goal (48') before Florian Wirtz pulled a goal back on 82 minutes.
Show moreWerkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at SC Freiburg on the 32nd matchday of the Bundesliga 2024/25...
Show moreThe Werkself are away to SC Freiburg on Bundesliga Matchday 32. The penultimate away game of the season is today Sunday, 4 May with a 17:30 CEST kick-off at the Europa Park Stadion. Read on for the latest information in today's matchday news.
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