Charles, the home game against Juventus is part of the challenge for second place in Group D with Atletico Madrid. How can we beat the group leaders?
First of all, it’s great to be playing against Juventus and taking on a team with players like that. That’s what the Champions League is all about. We have to be very focused on the game. We should enjoy it but, above all, we should be aware of our responsibilities. We’ve got a chance of going through to the next round of the Champions League. We can’t afford to think about anything else but this game.
Juve will finish top of the group. Do you think Ronaldo and Co. will take it easy at the BayArena?
I can’t imagine top players like that not taking a game seriously. It will be very difficult. But we’re hopeful and we’ll do all we can to win and make the people happy. If the results go right then it will obviously be great to go through to the next round.
You talk about us going through to the Round of 16. That would be a minor miracle after losing the first three games. Would it be a ‘miracle’ for you too?
Of course, it would be a big surprise. As a team, we dropped important points at the start of the competition and we haven’t made up for it. But we can’t look back and we have to focus on Juventus. We have to keep working hard and win. If Atletico don’t win then we can start thinking about what to call it.
Third place is guaranteed so you will be in the Europa League at the very least. You can afford to be relaxed, can’t you?
I prefer to see it as us having the chance to go through. We want to be in the next round and nothing else. That’s the mentality you need.
What do games in the Champions League mean to you? And, above all, the home games at the BayArena?
The Champions League is a great competition. Playing against the best players in the best teams is a really great experience. And if we manage to work with the crowd against Juve like we did against Atletico then we’ll have a good chance of winning the game.
You played a big part in the Werkself being able to win against Atletico and in Moscow – not just because of your two assists. How happy are you with your performances in the Champions League to date?
I’m never really satisfied. You always want to do your best and give all you can. We hope to go through to the next round and continue playing in the Champions League. If we can do that then I will definitely be a bit happier… (he grins).
New signing Miguel Gutiérrez arrives in Leverkusen having won the Champions League, the Spanish league title and an Olympic gold medal. However, the 25-year-old Spaniard, signed from Napoli, is looking to the future – he wants to write the next chapter of success with the Werkself. Bayer04.de takes a closer look at the skilful, attack-minded left-back, who will wear the number 3 jersey.
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The Werkself's training camp in Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog you'll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day three (Tuesday 4 August) begins with a thorough open session on the pitch. After lunch, some players have media engagements at the team hotel, and then the team come together for a barbecue in the evening.
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Nine matches against teams from nine countries, two penalty shoot-outs won, and encounters that went far beyond football: As with last year, the Inklusionswerkself enjoyed an extraordinary week at the Genuine Cup 2026 in Houston, USA, and made memories that will last a lifetime. This year, the Leverkusen side took part as Germany’s official representatives and, accordingly, took to the pitch in Germany kit. Together with 53 teams from 53 nations, the Black and Reds once again sent a powerful message of inclusion and participation – and also impressed on the pitch by winning their group.
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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. The programme for day two (Monday, 3 August) centres on two training sessions – one in the morning (open to the public) and one in the early evening (behind closed doors) – at the nearby training grounds. In the afternoon, fans can look forward to a big fan meet-up with club legend Paulo Sergio at Schloss Blankenhain.
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