
… 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 face Hamburger SV for the first time since February 2018 in their rearranged Bundesliga Matchday 17 clash. After long years in the second division, the Red Shorts have gradually reestablished themselves in the top flight this season, thanks in particular to their strong home record and third-best tackle success rate in the league. There'll be a fierce battle in the air too, as three of the highest-scoring centre-backs in the Bundesliga could be on the pitch at the Volksparkstadion - two of them for Leverkusen. The Matchday News.
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Video games manufacturer Electronic Arts (EA), together with the Deutsche Fußball Liga (DFL), has announced the six nominees for the February 2026 Bundesliga Player of the Month award. Not one, but two Werkself players are on the list in Edmond Tapsoba and Alejandro Grimaldo. Supporters of the Black-and-Reds have from now until midnight on Sunday 8 March to vote!
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After the original fixture on 13 January was postponed due to weather-related structural risks to the Volksparkstadion's roof, Hamburger SV now host Bayer 04 Leverkusen this evening, Wednesday 4 March (kick-off 20:30 CET), in the rearranged Matchday 17 meeting. It's a second home game in three days for HSV - an update on the opponents.
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The German Football League (DFL) has announced the three candidates for Bundesliga ‘Rookie of the Month’ for February. Among the candidates is Werkself player Jarell Quansah. Fans of Bayer 04 can vote for their favourite on the Bundesliga app from now until Thursday, 5 March (23:59 CET).
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