The Werkself women’s team entertained FC Köln early on Sunday evening in a the first friendly at Kurtekotten. Achim Feifel rang the changes in three 30-minute thirds. “We wanted to see how the different teams worked together on the pitch. Every player was able to play in her favourite position,” said the head coach. The Bayer 04 women took the lead on 38 minutes – the visitors put the ball in their own net from a corner. “We were pretty dangerous overall from corners and I liked that,” summed up Feifel, who does see the need for his defence to be more organised during transition moments. Sandra Maria Jessen doubled the lead on 52 minutes from a counter attack. FC Köln pulled a goal back from the penalty spot five minutes later – the referee spotted a ball by Nina Brüggemann. The game was abandoned on 76 minutes due to a thunderstorm.
The coaching staff were able to get a first look at their players after the summer break at the weekend: The Bundesliga women’s team beat the Bayer 04 women’s second team 5-0. Milena Nikolic (51’+ 54’), Henrike Sahlmann (60’), Jessica Wich (69’) and Juliane Wirtz (76’) scored the goals.
The first members of the Bayer 04 women’s squad met up at Kurtekotten at 07.15 CEST on Monday morning. Following coronavirus tests, the team bus was loaded and Achim Feifel and his squad headed off for a one-week training camp in Westerwald. The team will be based on Wiesensee until Sunday, 23 August. “The hotel is quite secluded and we will be able to fully focus on training and, above all, work on fitness and tactics. There will also be team building activities – that helps bonding,” said Feifel.
There will be up to three coaching sessions a day in Westerwald and there should have been a friendly against the Standard Liege women’s team at the end of the week on Saturday, 22 August. However, due to coronavirus restrictions, the Belgian top-flight side are not allowed to travel abroad and the game has been called off at short notice. As an alternative, the women’s team will play an internal eleven-a-side practice match.
With the exception of the injured Pauline Wimmer (torn cruciate) and Nicole Banecki (back problems), all the players will be at the training camp. Antonia Göransson has returned home to Sweden. The contract with the 29-year-old has been terminated by mutual agreement. Göransson will play for the Swedish club Växjö DFF this season.
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.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Spanish left-back Miguel Gutiérrez from Napoli. The 25-year-old has signed a contract with the club to 30 June 2031. Gutiérrez came through the youth ranks at Real Madrid; he moved to Italy a year ago from Girona, and he played a key role for Napoli with 36 appearances. The big Italian club finished last season as runners-up in Serie A.
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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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