The FLYERALARM Women’s Bundesliga has been suspended since the middle of March– since then, the Werkself Women have trained at home and worked in pairs on the pitch for the last two weeks to remain fit for a possible restart of the current campaign. Now the squad has returned to the training round at the beginning of this week – albeit adhering to the strict hygiene rules and coronavirus measures produced by Dr. Karl-Heinrich Dittmar, medical director and pandemics officer at Bayer 04. If the political authorities agree, the women’s top flight will finally return on the last weekend in May.
The Werkself women only have two weeks to get back into a competitive mode. “The first impressions of my team were very good after the long lay-off,” said Feifel in summing up the first day, “but individual sessions and full training are completely different in terms of workloads,” said the 55-year-old. “Many players suffer a drop off in their physiology and physique with breaks like this but others are less affected.”
Up to the possible restart in a week and a half against rivals MSV Duisburg, “we’re now trying to increase intensity as soon as possible so that we can play at a high tempo for 90 minutes and produce a suitable performance. We have to build it up gradually so none of the players get injured,” explained the head coach. In spite of the short time available to prepare, there are no “extra shifts”: “We’re in a completely normal training rhythm,” added Feifel, who has all his players available with the exception of long-term absentees Melissa Friedrich, Pauline Wimmer (both cruciate injuries) and Karoline Heinze (back problems).
Bayer 04 Women end their record-breaking season away at Wolfsburg on Sunday (kick-off: 2pm CEST). Although the Werkself know they will finish the campaign in fourth for their best-ever finish, head coach Roberto Pätzold has called on his team to produce one final big result.
Show moreBayer 04 Women will be without Caroline Kehrer and Charlotte Voll for the remainder of the season. Striker Kehrer suffered a torn meniscus in his right knee during training, while goalkeeper Voll tore the syndesmosis in her right foot.
Show moreBayer 04 are again strongly represented in this year's Bundesliga Team of the Season from the games manufacturer EA Sports. Five Werkself players have been voted into the top XI for the 2024/25 season, a duo from the Bayer 04 Women's team are in the female Bundesliga TOTS. Bayer 04 were well represented last season with six male players in the top eleven, the most players from one club.
Show moreA few weeks ago Borussia Dortmund were marooned in mid-table mediocrity in the Bundesliga. Then the Black and Yellows started a run that overcame all comers. And suddenly a Champions League spot was again within reach. BVB will be looking to take the next step towards the big target at the BayArena on Sunday, 11 May (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). Coach Niko Kovac has almost his full squad available. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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