
… the return to training: It was enormously important for me and all of us. You meet up with your teammates, can finally get back on the pitch –it’s just great fun. The whole thing feels like a second lot of pre-season training. You can see everybody’s excited and determined. Perhaps the break has done us good in terms of gaining strength and being up for the possible end of season run-in.
… his own fitness: I missed two games before the break in the season due to a shoulder injury. The break came at just the right time for me. I did some running and weight training. I can play again now. If we get going again in a couple of weeks then I’ll be fully fit.
… his training partner: Kerem Demirbay, Jonathan Tah and I formed a group at the start. We had loads of fun together. Now I’m training with Julian Baumgartlinger, Lars Bender and Karim Bellarabi. The excitement and levels are very high.
… the possibility of restarting the Bundesliga behind closed doors: I hope and believe we’ll be able to play again at the start of May. It will be a pity to start without fans but I can’t wait to get going again. We’re all full of desire and passion for the Bundesliga.
… a possible final spurt for the Werkself: It will be a major readjustment for us at first when we all train again and are able to play again. But we’re all experienced and we’ll soon get used to it. Our aim in the Bundesliga is to qualify for the Champions League. We’re working very hard at the moment – even though it is in small groups
… precautions at Bayer 04: We keep our distance, sanitise again and again, and regularly wash our hands.
… his daily routine: After training, I’ve done a bit of gaming and, above all, enjoyed time with my family.

Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
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Following on from the emotional last-minute win at Union Berlin, the Bayer 04 Women now face a promoted team: On Saturday, 31 January (12:00 CET), coach Roberto Pätzold's team welcome FC Nürnberg to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for their first home game of the new year. In their second season in the Bundesliga, the Franconians have impressed with 16 points from the first 15 games.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with Germany U19 international Montrell Culbreath. The attacking midfielder and right winger has penned a deal with the Bundesliga club that runs to 30 June 2030. Culbreath has played for the Werkself as a youth player since 2023. Last December, he scored his first Bundesliga goal for the Leverkusen first team in the Bayer 04 3-1 away win at RB Leipzig.
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The Werkself's 3-0 victory over Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League certainly left many happy faces: Malik Tillman was delighted with his brace, Robert Andrich with the clean sheet and coach Kasper Hjulmand with the "manner" of this significant home win. With an overwhelming superiority and over 75 per cent possession at times, Bayer 04 deserved their place in the UCL play-off round. They will face a familiar foe in February. The Werkself review.
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