Back
14.12.2018Bundesliga

'We have to make sure everybody helps defend'

Thanks to a 5-1 victory against AEK Larnaca in Cyprus on Thursday, the Werkself have won their group in the Europa League. There is not much time to rest as in two days (Sunday 16 December, 18.00 CET) Bayer 04 face the next challenge with an away game at Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga. On Friday afternoon, immediately after returning to Leverkusen, Heiko Herrlich faced the representatives of the media.

The Werkself coach talked about...

...the personnel situation: "Everybody returned from Larnaca fit and well and nobody is complaining about serious injury. With the players left behind with slight knocks, we will probably have Jonathan Tah and Karim Bellarabi available again. There is still a big question mark over Sven Bender – we will  probably make a decision about his availability for Sunday tomorrow."

...targets: „"We have the chance with a victory – which is obviously our aim – to get within two points of Eintracht Frankfurt. Then we would be where we want to be – or at least heading in the right direction. I have the feeling the team has finally found their way out of a difficult phase and are ready to take the next step."

..the opposition: "The table never lies and Frankfurt have had a great season so far. After a difficult start, Adi Hütter (Eintracht Frankfurt coach, ed.) has done an incredible job.  They play unbelievably intensive and all-out football, similar to the way Jürgen Klopp's way of playing football. In the statistics on intensive runs per game and in the ground covered  they are amongst the top teams. They've had a very good first half of the season – it feels like the best in the last ten years."

...Eintracht's front three: "It's impressive the way Luka Jovic, Sébastien Haller and Ante Rebic have played this season. It will be incredibly important to get a grip of them on Sunday. The same actually applies to Makoto Hasebe, their driving force in midfield, who we will also have to take out of the game  – but according to press reports he is unlikely to play (due to a muscle injury Suffered in the Europa League game against Lazio on Thursday, ed.)."

...the Werkself attitude: "We were able to beat Frankfurt twice last season. In both games, we showed the mentality needed to win games like that. In the away game at Frankfurt, I remember the opening goal well  when Julian Brandt won the ball in his own penalty area, we quickly played up field down the left flank  and Kevin Volland was in the middle to score the goal. That ability to accept defensive responsibility – as Jule brilliantly showed – will definitely be needed on Sunday."

…the approach : "We have to be wide-awake, be very compact and really try never to let the Frankfurt attack us in a one-on-one so that they can't dribble facing our goal. We have to make sure that everybody really helps defend."

sky_1810_all_300x250_b04.jpg

Related News

Kurzpässe vor #B04OLY
Champions League - 24.02.2026

Matchday news #B04OLY: Focused on the second leg - Kießling and Flekken on Werkself Radio

Bayer 04 can go through to the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League for the ninth time tonight, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET) and be in the top 16 clubs in Europe. A good omen: Leverkusen have progressed to the next round after winning the first leg in 20 of their 22 knockout rounds in European competitions to date. For their part, Greek record champions Olympiacos rested several players for last weekend’s league fixture ahead of the play-off second leg at the BayArena and will now do everything in their power to turn the tide with their usual aggressive and high pressing. The discussions on Werkself radio are likely to be just as intense as the battle on the pitch, with commentator Florian Bechholz welcoming honorary captain Stefan Kießling and goalkeeper Mark Flekken. Today’s matchday news.

Show more
Die PK mit Hjulmand und Blaswich vor dem Rückspiel gegen Piräus | Play-offs UCL
Werkself-TV - 23.02.2026

Hjulmand ahead of #B04OLY: ‘Take the game very seriously, it's not over yet’

With the advantage of the 2-0 first-leg win in the play-offs, the Werkself are looking to book their place in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League at the sold-out BayArena. Ahead of the home game against Olympiacos on Tuesday, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET), coach Kasper Hjulmand and goalkeeper Janis Blaswich spoke about the position ahead of the match, the visitors' strength at set-pieces and a personnel issue for the home side.

Show more
Panagiotis Retsos gegen Patrik Schick
Champions League - 23.02.2026

Opponents update - Mendilibar: ‘We need to be more precise in our finishing’

With a win in the Greek Super League last weekend, Olympiacos achieved success on the pitch ahead of the UEFA Champions League play-off second leg at Bayer 04 on Tuesday, 24 February (kick-off: 21:00 CET). Coach José Luis Mendilibar rested many of his regular starters.

Show more
Frauen unterliegen nach frühem Elfmeter-Treffer der TSG Hoffenheim | 19. Spieltag
Werkself-TV - 22.02.2026

Women: TV-highlights of 0-1 loss against TSG Hoffenheim

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 0-1 loss against TSG Hoffenheim on the 19th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.

Show more