
… 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.

The Werkself will host VfB Stuttgart at the BayArena on matchday 16 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 10 January, at 18:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
Show more
The Werkself will host Werder Bremen at the BayArena on matchday 19 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season. The game is on Saturday, 24 January, at 15:30 CET. Information on ticket sales.
Show more
In the sixth and final match of the league phase of the UEFA Youth League 2025/26, the Bayer 04 U19s have a great opportunity to advance to the knockout phase of Europe’s most prestigious youth competition for the first time. To achieve that under their own steam, they will need a win against Newcastle United at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium on Wednesday, 10 December (kick-off: 14:00 CET/ free admission). In an interview with bayer04.de, managing director sport Simon Rolfes analyses the team's performances so far and their special situation. And the 43-year-old reveals what he would be happy to do without on the day of the match.
Show more
The next opponents in the 2025/26 DFB Pokal have been announced: Bayer 04 will host Bundesliga rivals FC St. Pauli in the quarter-finals. That was the outcome of the draw held this Sunday evening, 7 December, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund, where long-time Bundesliga player and coach Friedhelm Funkel made the draw. The Werkself will play their quarter-final tie on 3-4 or 10-11 February 2026. The exact dates have yet to be finalised.
Show more
After falling behind early on, Bayer 04 took control of the game against a combative and disciplined FC Augsburg on Saturday afternoon. However, they lacked the necessary precision in finishing and hit the post and crossbar three times. After the game, coach Kasper Hjulmand said he wanted to get back to the "right philosophy" of previous matches with three games left in 2025. The Werkself review.
Show more