Kai, you withdrew from the U19 European Championships in the summer to give yourself a break after last season. Now you're back from holiday – did you get chance to recover?
Havertz: Yes, I had about a month off and I used the time to rest and recover – including from school – and I think it’s all worked out really well.
The first days in the training camp are over. What are your impressions so far? Havertz: We've had a good start but you also see how tough it is. But that's why the pre-season is there and we've got to get through it. It's fun being back here with the lads and I think we'll have a few good days.
What are your aims the new season?
Havertz: I'd like to establish myself and get more time on the pitch. On top of that, I want to join the team in a new start and achieve our joint targets.
Last season you showed how versatile you are. But if you were the coach, where would you play yourself?
Havertz: I'm definitely a midfielder. But I'm still very young and I don't really mind where I play. The main thing is for me to play!
04 fan questions – thanks for joining in.
@Jonasovic(via Twitter): What would you have done after your A-levels if you're football career hadn't taken off so quickly?
Havertz: It's difficult to say. I've always wanted to work in sport. Of course, my aim was to end up here at some point – that is be a professional footballer. Definitely something to do with sports but I can't really imagine what that would have been exactly.
@crxfm(via Twitter): You are a very versatile player up front. But what's your favourite position?
Havertz: As I just said: I most like playing in central midfield but I don't really mind where I play at the moment – the main thing is that I'm on the pitch.
@Pat Mosby(via Facebook): Are Vladlen and Co. really better than you at FIFA?
Havertz: No, I dispute that. I just had a bad night yesterday. (He laughs) Vlad is very good but Atakan and Sam are definitely not better than me.
@Christian Waschkewitz(via Facebook): Do you have any rituals before matches?
Havertz: It wouldn't actually see ritual but perhaps a little foible: I always put on my left shin pad and then my left boot first. That's not really true ritual but that's what I do most of the time before games.
Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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Due to the last-minute postponement of the Bundesliga match between Hamburg and the Werkself on Tuesday, 13 January, Bayer 04 will reimburse the ticket price to all 3,500 fans who had already travelled to Hamburg as a sign of appreciation. The tickets remain valid for the rescheduled match (date not yet set).
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without centre-back Edmond Tapsoba in the coming weeks. The Burkina Faso international returned to the Werkself from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a muscle injury.
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The Bundesliga fixture between Hamburger SV and Bayer 04 Leverkusen has been postponed at short notice.
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Bayer 04 face Hamburger SV for the first time in almost eight years. Although the Hanseatic city team are often below par on the road, they are regularly in top form in front of their own fans. In particular, 18-year-old shooting star Luka Vuskovic is proving to be a real bonus for Merlin Polzin's team, both in attack and defence. However, that should not scare the Werkself: Not only was the last defeat against the newly promoted team 17 games ago, but Kasper Hjulmand's players are in with a chance of securing their fifth win in six games against HSV. Today’s matchday news.
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