
What do you think you have to achieve and would you be really disappointed if you couldn't make it? (@Amy, via Twitter)
Julian Brandt: "I'd definitely be disappointed if I didn't manage to win a title during my career. Then I don't think I'd be able to stop playing football – I'd be happy to stand at the corner flag and watch as my team-mates win the title (he laughs). No, to be serious: Winning a title is definitely one of the things I have to achieve."
Who would you most like to meet? (Yvonne Heilmann, via Facebook)
Julian Brandt: (thinks about it) "I can't think of anybody in particular at the moment who I want to emulate or see as a role model – not athletes, actors or politicians even though there a lot of cool people. But I don't dream about having to get to know somebody."
Were you able to enjoy your holiday? (Nico Jager, via Facebook)
Julian Brandt: "Yes, I was really able to enjoy my holiday – the four weeks and the holiday with my family were great."
What effect does the team have on you – as things stand? (Marcel Kirchhoff, via Facebook)
Julian Brandt: "I was able to follow a couple of the games in the pre-season - including via the live stream. I think the team look very solid: We've won the first four friendlies and all without conceding. Of course, there were opponents we had to beat but I think the lads have performed pretty well. And now everybody's determined to make progress in training. I think we'll get up to speed over the next two weeks so we're ready to go in the new season."


Ticket sales for another Bayer 04 Women's home game have begun. Fans can now purchase tickets for the match against SGS Essen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Saturday, 22 November. The latest information at a glance.
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It took 120 minutes, but once again Bayer 04 produced a late goal to win their DFB Pokal second-round tie away at Paderborn on Wednesday. “Same as always” was the line in Bild in homage to the 2023/24 double-winning season. With Jeanuel Belocian making his first start in over a year and Ibrahim Maza netting his first Werkself goal to secure a place in the last 16, Jonas Hofmann is eager to “take the positive feeling” into the next round.
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A DFB Pokal thriller that had it all - including a positive outcome from a Bayer 04 perspective. After a goalless and uneventful first half, the second round tie at SC Paderborn 07 really took off: Following a red card for the second division side, Grimaldo scored to give Bayer 04 a 1-0 lead but Paderborn levelled before the end of normal time. The home side then turned the game round at 2-1 in extra time, before Quansah, Maza and Garcia scored for the Werkself to make it 4-2 to seal a place in the Round of 16.
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SC Paderborn 07, the second-placed team in Bundesliga 2, face the Werkself in the second round of the DFB Pokal. Although Paderborn have won six games in a row, Bayer 04 have never lost to SCP. That will hopefully continue on Wednesday, 29 October (kick-off: 18:00 CET) with Patrick Ittrich the man with the whistle. The experienced referee will have to make do without the support of VAR at the Home Deluxe Arena. Read on for further information on tonight’s game in the matchday news.
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