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"The final pre-match training session is behind us and we are well prepared for tomorrow's game. We have nearly all the players on board with very good energy and mood," said Alonso at the pre-match press conference. The Spaniard is expecting an "intense game" on Friday night.
Alonso also shared his views on the new head coach Bo Henriksen, who is the third FSV coach this season following on from Bo Svensson and Jan Siewert: "They have a new coach, he brings new motivation. His teams always play with high energy, which you could see in Zürich (FC Zürich, ed) and also against Augsburg." Mainz secured a 1-0 victory against FC Augsburg last weekend and it was the first win in twelve games and only the second three pointer this season."
Nadiem Amiri, who joined FSV Mainz from Bayer 04 at the end of January, made his fourth start for his new club in Augsburg. Alonso on tomorrow's reunion: "I enjoyed the time with Nadiem. It was a difficult situation for him here recently but, nevertheless, he was always very important for us. He had a good attitude. In the end, he wanted the move and we obviously respected that."
Mainz are currently 17th in the table on 15 points. The Werkself are top with an eight-point lead over Bayern Munich. Alonso does not see a change mentality in his team given that advantage in points: "I don't see any change in the team's focus. To be honest, it’s been a really normal week." The Spaniard added: "I don't look at the table but I know what we are aiming for. First of all, we want to end February successfully with a victory against Mainz. Last year we lost at home. We don't want that to happen again."
Asked about the discussions on his future, Alonso said: "I've nothing new to say about the future. These questions are normal."
30,210 fans will be at the game on Friday night, including 2,000 from Mainz. For the game against FSV, Alonso will still have to manage without the injured Victor Boniface, Arthur and Exequiel Palacios. Alonso provided an update on the Argentinian: "Pala has trained well but we don't want to take any risks. The aim is for him to be available against Köln."
Midfielder Ruby Grant is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and joining Portuguese runners-up Sporting CP a year before her contract expires. The 24-year-old has been at the Werkself since January 2025.
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Bayer 04 have loaned Brazilian full-back Arthur to Bundesliga side Werder Bremen for one year. Arthur Augusto de Matos Soares – the full name of the right-back – has a contract with Leverkusen until 30 June 2031. At Werder, the 23-year-old is expected to make an impact and help the long-established club further consolidate their position in the Bundesliga.
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Bayer 04 have loaned defender Jeanuel Belocian to Spanish top-flight side Racing Santander. The 21-year-old defender joins the team currently ninth in La Liga until the end of the current 2026/27 season. Belocian’s contract remains valid until 30 June 2029. Last season, the 1.86-metre-tall U21 international was loaned to VfL Wolfsburg for six months.
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He knows the dressing room, the pitch and the club. But, above all, he knows the feeling of playing for the Werkself at the BayArena: Moussa Diaby is back in Leverkusen after three years. The lightning-fast winger has signed a contract with Bayer 04 until 2031 and he will once again wear the number 19 jersey. The left-footed player previously played for the club from 2019 to 2023, having arrived in the Rhineland from his native France as a promising young talent and eventually leaving the club – having established himself as one of the Bundesliga’s best attackers – to join Aston Villa in the Premier League. Now he has returned to Bayer 04 from Al-Ittihad FC in Saudi Arabia.
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