"Mum and child are doing well. We're all very happy," Seoane proudly declared at the start of the press conference before adding: "I actually always try to separate my professional from my private life but when you become a father you can't compare or describe those feelings with anything in football." The Swiss manager then moved on to tomorrow's encounter with FC Augsburg on matchday two: "We want to produce a good performance tomorrow and we finally want to get a result," said Seoane in setting out a clear target for the first game on home turf. According to Seoane that primarily requires "high energy and aggression."
The Werkself have one statistic in their favour: Leverkusen have been undefeated in the last 22 matches against Augsburg. Seoane did warn however: "I'm not interested in the results from the past. Augsburg have a new coach and a different approach to the game this year." The 4-0 defeat against Freiburg last weekend does not reflect the performance levels of FCA. "Therefore, I'm expecting an exciting Bundesliga match where we will have to look to our own performance and show our quality," said Seoane. In addition, the coach praised his team in training this week: "We have worked with focus and concentration."
Seoane is still unable to call on Florian Wirtz. The Werkself number 27 is currently on holiday in Ibiza but is working hard on his comeback out there. The 43-year-old manager is also unable to select Robert Andrich. The midfielder is making good progress, "but is unavailable to play tomorrow as the risk is too high," said Seoane.
There is also good news about Amine Adli: The Werkself number 21 has completed numerous individual sessions in recent weeks and also started full training again, and the striker will be back in the squad for the first time against FCA: "Amine has recovered well and has had the green light from the medical department and is able to play again. He's an important player and we believe he can have his first minutes on the pitch again but we obviously have to be careful."
Following the suspension of the captain Lukas Hradecky, Gerardo Seoane has chosen to put Andrey Lunev in goal. "It's not always easy to accept the role as the second or third goalkeeper but I have to pay a big compliment to all the keepers. They are professional in their day-to-day work." The Swiss coach describes Andrey Lunev as a very experienced keeper: "He is very calm and I think he enjoys the fact he will be playing in such an important match tomorrow. We have full confidence in his quality and ability."
For the opening match at the BayArena, the Werkself can concurrently look forward to the backing of 23,000 Black and Reds supporters in the stands. Fan clubs are calling for a fan march at 10.00 CEST from the Market Square in Wiesdorf. 300 Augsburg fans are expected to make the trip to Leverkusen.
Gerardo Seoane is also looking forward to the first match at home in the new season: "We have very sensitive fans. Last season they showed they have a very good sense of when the team needs support," said Seoane before adding: "Of course, positive and negative feedback is all part of it but we always feel we have great support from our fans and look forward to seeing a lot of people at the game tomorrow."
Bayer 04 midfielder Ibrahim Maza was honoured in Paris in the Best Algerian Young Player category at the Fennec d'Or awards for the Algerian Footballer of the Year, organised for the first time by the football journal La Gazette du Fennec. "It's an honour for me," said the 19-year-old, delighted with the award.
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On the back of two wins within four days, Bayer 04 Women round off an intensive Bundesliga week in the Black Forest. Roberto Pätzold's side have the chance to move back up to third place against SC Freiburg in the final fixture of Matchday 10 on Monday (18:00 CET) and draw level on points with second-placed VfL Wolfsburg.
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The last international break of this calendar year features the final qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada and Mexico. An overview of who's playing where and when from a Leverkusen point of view.
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Never before have Bayer 04 led 4-0 so early in the Bundesliga, never before have they won a Bundesliga home match by a higher margin. Leverkusen's exhibition display against 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 produced many stories, records and debuts. While Kasper Hjulmand's side celebrated the rousing performance properly with the fans, Jonas Hofmann and Co aren't losing focus: "We have to be careful that we don't just praise ourselves. The games come thick and fast again after the international break." The Werkself Review has all the reaction and analysis of the 6-0 victory at the BayArena.
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