25 players from the first team plus four youth players boarded the team flight at Cologne/Bonn airport in the afternoon., After a 90-minute flight, the Bayer 04 squad landed in Salzburg and then travelled the remaining 55 kilometres to Saalfelden by coach.
Patrik Schick and Robert Andrich checked into their rooms at the Hotel Gut Brandlhof, the new training camp base for the Werkself after ten years in Zell am See/Kaprun. While Schick will continue his individual rehab programme following last month's groin operation, Andrich is set to start training with the team in the next few days.
After arriving in the team hotel, the final event of the day for the whole team was the evening meal on the hotel terrace with a view of the mountain range around the Steinernes Meer. That was followed by media activities for several players. Goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky was interviewed by bayer04.de and he talked about the "outstanding facilities on site." Further statements from the Finland international keeper will be available in Monday on the club media channels.
Head coach Xabi Alonso will lead a training session for his team on Monday morning on the neighbouring training ground, a short walk from the hotel. The session begins at 10.30 CEST and is open to Bayer 04 fans. That will be followed in the afternoon by a session in the gym.
Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
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Fun, games and promising talent: At the fourth Bayer 04 Junior Girls’ Talent Day at the Kurtekotten training centre, 90 football-mad girls had the chance to put themselves forward for the Werkself youth teams. During a 90-minute training session, children born between 2011 and 2019 had the chance to demonstrate their skills.
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Despite the international break, numerous Werkself fans turned up at the BayArena on Saturday 3 October. The occasion: Bayer 04, together with Bayer Vital and main sponsor BarmeniaGothaer, organised a Health Day. In the stadium’s Premium Lounge, guests listened to fascinating talks on the subject of cancer, featuring, amongst others, Bayer 04 record appearance holder Rüdiger Vollborn and former Werkself player Hans Sarpei. Afterwards, young and old alike enjoyed interactive stations such as a grip strength test and eye pupil test.
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In issue #56 of Werkself Magazine, Afonso Moreira offers some interesting insights into his home country, Portugal, as part of the ‘Sag mal’ (Tell me) feature. Among other things, the 21-year-old talks about his favourite places in the country on the Iberian Peninsula, the local cuisine and music, as well as heroes and historical figures beyond the world of football. ‘Sag mal’ with Afonso Moreira!
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