Back
12.04.2024Werkself-TV

Alonso ahead of #B04SVW: “Full respect for Bremen, nothing is a given”

Bayer 04 have the chance to be champions for the first time in their history on Sunday if they can beat Werder Bremen at the BayArena (kick-off: 5.30pm CEST). Ahead of the game, head coach Xabi Alonso spoke about how to approach this potentially historic day and the opposition.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

“Obviously there’s this special aspect to the game on Sunday. We have the chance to be champions. But we’re only focusing on the game itself and want to play with our usual quality and mentality,” Alonso stated at his press conference on Friday. The Spaniard added: “We don’t want to think too much about eventualities. We’ll prepare normally for the game. Luckily, it’s not the only chance we have to be champions. But we’re playing at home and want to take our first chance.”

“Prefer to settle it ourselves”

Alonso said of the fact that Bayer 04 could be champions the day before if Bayern Munich and VfB Stuttgart both lose their games: “That would be a very big surprise. Normally that won’t happen. Honestly, we’d prefer to settle it ourselves on the pitch.”

Werder come to the BayArena on a run of six games without a win. “Bremen are a good opponent. They play with a clear idea. We’ll approach the game with full respect, because nothing is a given. We saw that last season at Dortmund. Our heads are now on Bremen. We’re in a good situation and are focusing fully on Sunday,” Alonso added.

“Fans deserve to celebrate”

There are set to be 30,210 fans, including 3,000 from Bremen, coming to the sold-out BayArena on Sunday. When asked of a potential pitch invasion by supporters, Alonso said: “The most important thing is that the fans can celebrate properly. They deserve that. But we still have a few games left to play on this pitch. We need the pitch still.”

Related News

Werkself beat Genk 4-0 in front of home crowd | Friendly
Werkself-TV - 29.07.2026

TV highlights of 4-0 win in friendly against KRC Genk

Werkself TV shows the highlights of the 4-0 victory in the friendly match against KRC Genk...

Show more
Werkself beim Torjubel
Bayer 04 - 29.07.2026

Werkself beat Genk 4-0 in front of home crowd

In their third friendly of this pre-season, Bayer 04 played on home soil for the first time – and won there too! The Werkself claimed a comfortable 4-0 victory against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. Jeanuel Belocian (9’) and Nathan Tella (42’) gave a dominant Leverkusen a 2-0 lead at the break, which Afonso Moreira (51’) and Christian Kofane (53’) doubled after the break. Among the many second-half substitutions was Patrik Schick, who made his first friendly appearance of the summer.

Show more
LIVE ab 14.50 Uhr | Bayer 04 - KRC Genk | Testspiel
Werkself-TV - 29.07.2026

LIVE from 14:50 CEST | Bayer 04 vs KRC Genk | Friendly

The Werkself continue their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with their third friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion on Wednesday 29 July (kick-off 15:00 CEST). Werkself-TV is broadcasting the match live and in full in a stream from 14:50 CEST...

Kids-PK mit Tim Oermann und Jonah Berghoff
Football Academy - 28.07.2026

‘I wear my favourite club on my chest’: Kids’ press conference with Oermann and Berghoff

After the children from the Bayer 04 Football Academy grilled Janis Blaswich and Simeon Rapsch last week, another group of 20 young Werkself fans gathered at the BayArena press conference room on Tuesday afternoon, 28 July . This time, the kids directed their questions at Tim Oermann and Jonah Berghoff. Defender Oermann raved about his school days, whilst talented midfielder Berghoff revealed to the young footballers, amongst other things, who his favourite player is – and he is also at Bayer 04. To round things off, the pair naturally obliged with all requests for autographs and selfies.

Show more
Testspiele_Live_Uebersicht_Genk.jpg
Bayer 04 - 28.07.2026

Log on and watch live: Stream Werkself pre-season games

Bayer 04 are back on the pitch. Following the first training sessions, the Werkself play the first pre-season friendly on Saturday, July 18. The match against Oberliga club Sportfreunde Baumberg kicks off at 15:30 CEST in Monheim am Rhein. Fans unable to attend the match can watch head coach Carles Martínez’s first game in charge for free via a livestream at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app, as well as on Werkself.tv (exclusively for members). Just log on and watch the games live. All the other Werkself preseason friendlies leading up to the 2026/27 season will also be streamed live for free.

Show more