Back
16.09.2022Bundesliga

Seoane ahead of #B04SVW: ‘We want to play to our own strengths’

The Werkself play their seventh Bundesliga match on Saturday 17 September. Following the 2-0 home win against Atlético Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night, the team under head coach Gerardo Seoane now entertain Werder Bremen at the BayArena (kick-off: 15.30 CEST). The Swiss coach is again looking for his team to produce a focused performance from the start against the Green and Whites.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

"For me, there is no ranking in the importance of matches. The next game is always the most important for me," declared Seoane at today's pre-match press conference. "We had a really good game against Atlético with tactics playing a big part for both teams. So, I have to pay a big compliment to my team. They were disciplined for the whole 90 minutes," said the 43-year-old summing up the first home win in the Champions League.

The Swiss coach added that the positive result has had an influence on the mood of the team: "You can feel a certain satisfaction and pride." However, Seoane also admitted: "a lot of players were very tired after the game – physically and mentally."

FOcUS ON BEING COMPACT AND strong in challenges

The aim now is to take that performance level into the next game against Werder Bremen: "What we need tomorrow is to be compact. In addition, we have to show our strength in challenges on the pitch to get increased pace as we did against Atlético," said Seoane in describing the targets for the clash with the North German club and he added: "We need a good sense of the game again as we can expect a different match tomorrow."

Seoane: "Bremen haVE A LOT OF ENERGY"

Seoane primarily sees the strength of the opponents in their pressing game: "They have a lot of energy, always play high up the pitch, do not allow you much time and always look to close down their opponents." According to the 43-year-old, transition play will also play a crucial role: "They have recently been able to create a lot of transition moves but have also given away as many." Therefore, there will be a need to adjust as best as possible but Seoane set out the aim of "playing to our own strengths."

Formation unconfirmed

The Swiss coach did not want to reveal a set formation: "That is always dependent on the opponents and how the game develops. It's important that the players are able to vary their positions during the game."

Seoane should be able to call on the same squad as in the game against the Madrid side but he admitted: "After a game like that, it's completely normal that one or the other player has a knock so we will work closely with the medical department."

praise for Schick

The 43-year-old also found words of praise for striker Patrik Schick: "I like the Patrik I'm seeing this season very much. He runs a lot, battles with the central defenders, scores goals. He has impressed me overall in training with a positive approach, he's led the way in difficult weeks and has served the team."

Adli and Bellarabi in rehab training

More good news: Amine Adli and Karim Bellarabi have returned to the pitch this week. Both are currently in rehab training. "It will take one or two weeks before they can get back into full training," said Seoane before adding: "Amine is a long way down the road but at the moment we are avoiding any contact until he's strong enough. "The aim with Karim Bellarabi is to continue to increase the workload.

29,000 at the BayArena

29,000 tickets have been sold for the game against Werder Bremen. The visitors have almost completely used up their allocation with 2,851 Werder fans travelling to Leverkusen tomorrow.

 

Related News

eSports-Trikot
eSports - 07.08.2026

#B04eSports: The eSports jersey for the 2026/27 season

Kicking off the new season with a fresh look: Bayer 04, in collaboration with sportswear manufacturer New Balance, has unveiled the official kit for Leverkusen’s e-Sports players for the coming season. The jersey is now available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.

Show more
Paulo Sergio mit Carles Martínez
Bayer 04 - 07.08.2026

‘Excellent prospects’ for the new season in Leverkusen and Brazil: Interview with club legend Paulo Sergio

Paulo Sergio and Bayer 04 have enjoyed close ties since the Werkself training camp in his native Brazil last summer. The club legend is in charge of the Bayer 04 Soccer Academy, which opened in the summer of 2025, and he has also been at this year’s training camp in the Weimarer Land. As well as interacting with the many fans who travelled to the camp, the 1994 World Cup winner used the time to plan the next steps for the Academy together with club officials. In an interview with bayer04.de, Sergio spoke about the project’s future development, the upcoming visit by young Academy players to Leverkusen, and plans for the coming months in Germany and Brazil.

Show more
crop_20260806_JS_Trainngslager_Tag5_3197.jpg
Bayer 04 - 06.08.2026

Day 5 blog: Team event and football tennis| Training camp in the Weimarer Land

A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day five (Thursday 6 August) is as follows: The squad have the final open session of the training camp in the morning. After lunch, there will be a team event.

Show more
Trainingsarbeit im Trainingslager im Weimarer Land
Bayer 04 - 05.08.2026

Day 4 blog: Gutiérrez on the pitch – Belocian faces media | Training camp in the Weimarer Land region

A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day four (Wednesday 5 August) is all about training. The day begins with a gruelling open training session – new signing Miguel Gutiérrez also takes part. A second session follows in the afternoon, this time behind closed doors.

Show more
„Fans sollen spüren, dass wir immer alles geben“: Carles Martínez und Pol García im großen Doppel-Interview
Werkself-TV - 05.08.2026

‘Fans should feel we always give our all’: Joint interview with Carles Martínez and Pol García

At the training camp in the Weimarer Land region, Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez and his long-standing assistant Pol García talk about their first few weeks with the Werkself, their expectations of their own work, the coaching staff and the squad, as well as the style of football they want the team to play. They emphasise the importance of a winning mentality within the team, comment on cultural and personal differences in the world of football, and outline their goals for the coming season...

Show more