Jonathan Tah, how are you? Have you had a chance to take a holiday since your groin injury or did you start rehab at Leverkusen straightaway?
Tah: I'm doing really well and the rehab's going well too. Unfortunately I wasn't able to take a holiday due to the injury but I'll make up for that soon. I'm looking forward to it already.
When will you be fit again? Are you looking forward to the pre-season with the Werkself?
Tah: Yes, I'm very much looking forward to being back on the pitch very soon. I'll start training again after my holiday. But first of all I'll have to start working on my own. We’ll gradually increase the workload. I hope to be able to be back in full training two to three weeks after the start of the pre-season.
You recently posted that you are very happy that Stefan Kießling is staying for another season. How important is he to the Werkself and how do you get on with each other?
Tah: I get on really well with Stefan Kießling. When I came to Leverkusen he did a lot for me and helped me settle in. He's a great bloke. And he’s enormously important for us on the pitch. He can score crucial goals at any time. And everybody knows how valuable he is for Leverkusen as a whole.
You spoke to Heiko Herrlich last week. What's your first impression of the new head coach?
Tah: Heiko Herrlich really impressed me. I'm very excited that he’s got started and I’m looking forward to working with him. My first conversation with him was also good because it included talking about when I'm going on holiday. :)
The 04 fan questions - Thank you for taking part!
@SethRollinsLEV (via Twitter): How do you see the chances for Germany in the Confederations Cup and the U 21 European Championships?
Tah: Both teams have very good squads and are capable of winning. Of course, they do have some very strong opponents. Above all in the Confed Cup, the other teams have their top players with them while Germany are missing some of the top stars. However, Germany will still want to win.
@jannisvlm (via Twitter): Which stadium would you like to play in where you've never played before?
Tah: It would be the Santiago Bernabeu. I've been there when there was no game on. I would like to have the chance to play there – and hopefully win.
Ricardo Gianlucca (via Facebook): Besides yourself, who do you think is the best central defender in the world?
Tah: For me it's Sergio Ramos at the moment. He's had an outstanding season and he made a solid contribution to taking Real Madrid to where they are.
Vanessa Arntzen (via Facebook): What does #dieuestaucontrole mean to you?
Tah: Literally translated it means "God is in control". That means God controls everything. That's what I believe and it gives me a lot of strength in difficult situations like now. And even when things are going well my faith provides support.
Season tickets for the Werkself home matches in the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season are now on general sale. The season ticket is valid for all 13 matches at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The first home match will be played between 28 and 31 August against the runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, followed by the clash with the German champions, Bayern Munich, between 11 and 14 September.
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A new team, a new environment, a new challenge—and yet one thing remains the same for Afonso Moreira: his attitude. Total dedication, discipline, and the drive to improve every day have defined the Portuguese player since his early days at Sporting CP. “Even back then, I realized I had to work hard to achieve my goals,” said the 21-year-old. His parents also instilled those values in him from a young age. Values that have driven him ever since, accompanied him to France when he signed for Lyon, and now also form the foundation for his new chapter at Bayer 04. At a media session, the lightning-fast winger spoke about his values, as well as his new teammates, the new coach, and his targets at the club.
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Former Bundesliga and Germany keeper Manfred Manglitz, who was promoted to the Oberliga West with Bayer 04 in 1962, passed away on Monday at the age of 86.
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Justine Brandau and Lobke Loonen joined the Bayer 04 Women’s squad in quick succession this summer. The two Dutch players have been friends since their youth days, and are now playing for the same club for the first time. In an interview at the training camp in Rieden, Brandau and Loonen talk, amongst other things, about their experiences as opponents in the Vrouwen Eredivisie, the dynamic within their new team and their first few weeks in Leverkusen.
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