There were a number of reunions on Saturday 20 July. When the Werkself appeared for the first match against the English team at the Alois Latini Stadium, there was a former youth coach in the stands. Markus Anfang, who spent a year at Leverkusen as a player and later coached the U17 team, did not want to miss the opportunity to see his former players perform. From 2013 to 2016 he looked after Bayer 04 youth teams and, at the end of his time with the Black and Reds, he won the Germany U17 league title.
The U17 squad then included Jan Boller, Adrian Stanilewicz and a certain Kai Havertz. Anfang, who came to Zell am See along with another former Bayer 04 youth coach Florian Junge, held a long conversation with the 20-year-old outside the dressing room after the final whistle. At different points, Havertz has again and again stressed how important Anfang and his assistant coach Tom Cichon were to the development of the young Germany international. The midfielder was quickly able to establish himself in the senior squad not least through working with the duo.
It was smiles all round when this former Bayer 04 player turned up at the Alois Latini Stadium. Although André Romalho only played for the Werkself for 18 months, the Brazilian was and is very popular with his team-mates and staff thanks to his open and likeable ways. Now at RB Salzburg, he drove to Zell am See especially to congratulate his friend. Wendell, who is still in regular contact with Romalho, was 26 on Saturday.
A reunion in the Champions League is not possible in the group stages this season. Salzburg, who qualified for Europe's elite club competition for the first time in their history, are in pot three just like Leverkusen. "Then we'll see each other again in the Round of 16," joked Romalho, who was unable to meet his friend Wendell on the pitch but he did travel to the team hotel in Kaprun to give him a hug.
On the penultimate day at the training camp. Marcel Daum, the analysis assistant coach, is now a year older. "Not 26 any more but also not 36," countered the son of the former Bayer 04 head coach Christoph Daum in response to the question of which birthday it was. Fortunately the Internet knew: Daum junior is 33.
Two birthday boys: A good reason reason to raise a glass indeed. The head coach softened as he revealed that there would be "a bit of celebration" in the evening. The exact words of Peter Bosz are to be heard on 'Werkself calling'. The clip with the coach is available on the Bayer 04 Facebook page.
There were two moments of shock at the friendly and others later in the hotel. But all in good time. In the second game against the Spaniards, Joel Pohjanpalo had to go off injured after a challenge on 22 minutes. As it was his right foot again, the Leverkusen group sensed something might be wrong. But Bosz gave the all clear after the game: "I'm not expecting him to be out for long," said the head coach. The same applies to Karim Bellarabi. He had problems with his ankle in the second half and was replaced by Marco Wolf in the 80th minute. "Karim didn't want to come off. But we didn't want to take any risks. That's why we brought him off," said Bosz after the final whistle in the game against Eibar.
The players and spectators experienced that in dry weather. Although it gradually became more and more overcast during the second friendly, the rain only came when the team and staff had reached the Tauern Spa in Kaprun. It rained hard and there were a number of flashes of lightning in the valley. But it was only a brief shock and no damage was caused.
Niko Hartmann had problems of a completely different nature. He was the Bayer 04 TV commentator for both matches and, above all in the first game against Watford, he was constantly exposed to the sun and hot temperatures over 30 degrees. Julian Baumgartlinger, who was available for comment in the half-time break, was moaning after his 15-minute appearance. "It was almost unbearably hot and humid, hats off to Niko who carried on for over two hours." Fortunately, the sun hid behind the clouds for the evening game so that Hartmann was able to guide viewers through the second half with aplomb.
All daily reports:
#B04inAustria – Day 1: Two birthdays and a 'bobble ban'
#B04inAustria – Day 2: Visit from DFB Cup winning captain
#B04inAustria - Day 3: Lars Bender confirmed as captain
#B04inAustria - Day 4: New 'master of all trades'?
#B04inAustria - Day 5: Carro meets the fans
Click here for the gallery - The best images of day six.
Lying third in the Bundesliga, the Werkself made a faltering start in 2026 after the winter break, but gradually rediscovered winning ways and, as in the previous campaign, were among the top 16 in Europe and the top four in the DFB Pokal. In the Bundesliga, the Werkself also remained in the race for Champions League qualification right to the end. However, because setbacks repeatedly crept into the Werkself's performances between good displays and crucial games, it was not quite enough to secure a UCL spot in the end. A season with many ups and downs brought sixth place and qualification for the UEFA Europa League. Part II of the review of the 2025/26 season.
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