Back
24.07.2017Bayer 04

#B04inAustria – Day 1: Regeneration and rain

The Werkself face the music in the next seven days in Zell am See/Kaprun. In a fitting repeat of last year, the Bayer 04 group led by Rudi Völler and head coach Heiko Herrlich were greeted with traditional Austrian brass-band music on their arrival at the team hotel Tauern Spa on Sunday night.
20170724_KSVerlag_JS_0095.jpg

After a tiring day, consisting of the journey to Salzburger Land following on from the friendly at SV Sandhausen, there was no alternative for the Werkself: evening meal and off to bed.

So much for sunshine

The surrounding Pinzgau Moors were shrouded in thick fog on Monday morning. On top of that, there was pouring rain – filthy weather or 'grim' as the locals call it. That was on the way after the afternoon sunshine was replaced by hail and strong winds. Nevertheless, the Alpine panorama remains impressive, even in grey, although everybody would have been happier with some sunshine…

Henrichs, Leno and Brandt eagerly awaited

The Werkself were strengthened with the addition of three players this morning: The newly crowned Confed Cup winners Julian Brandt, Benjamin Henrichs and Bernd Leno were the latest three players to arrive at the team HQ. While most of the Bayer 04 squad were in the land of nod, the night was done and dusted for the trio. The flight from Düsseldorf left at 6.30 bound for Salzburg where the late arrivals were collected by Bayer 04 driver Werner Rüsen and brought to the hotel. Referee Rainer Werthmann was also on board as he is due to address the squad in the afternoon on changes to the rules of the game.

Extended break for Charles Aránguiz

The Werkself are still waiting for Charles Aránguiz. The 28-year-old Chilean was only expected to return to Leverkusen on Monday after his participation in the Confed Cup. In agreement with coach Heiko Herrlich, he has been allowed to have a longer break and will rejoin the squad in a weeks time. The holding midfielder – as with the German Confed Cup players – will complete the performance tests and the pre-season medical at the BayArena.

Dragovic - king of regenerative training

The pre-season is a time of intense training. That also goes for the Werkself. For the lads involved in the match against SV Sandhausen on Sunday afternoon the day started with a regeneration session in the hotel's gymnasium. At least it was dry there – while Jonathan Tah, André Ramalho and Lars Bender were exposed to the elements in a session at the Alois Latini Stadium. Heiko Herrlich and his fellow coaches invited the players outside in the afternoon: In the pouring rain, Aleksandar Dragovic was the clear winner in a precision and stamina course - ahead of Sam Schreck and Vladlen Yurchenko who were equal on points.

Reduced workout for three pros

Three players in the Herrlich squad had a more sedate start on the first day of training: Karim Bellarabi was on the pitch in the afternoon for a session with fitness coach Daniel Jouvin to organise his training regime. Kevin Kampl and Lars Bender, who was suffering with a slight cold, trained in the team hotel.

Stefan Reinartz visits the Werkself

There was another reunion in the evening. This time with an old friend. Stefan Reinartz, who played for the Bayer 04 youth and first teams between 1999 and 2015, took the opportunity to visit his former club at the Bayer 04 training camp in Salzburger Land. The 28-year-old former pro, who now looks after other Bundesliga clubs as well as the Werkself, travelled to Zell am See together with Bayer 04 sporting manager Jonas Boldt and he will spend a couple of days with the team.

#B04inAustria –For all the news and updates.

Using the hashtag #B04inAustria, it is possible to keep up-to-date with #Werkself and #Bayer 04 round-the-clock. There are also daily, exclusive stories from the heart of the team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. It's worth taking a look.

JAKO_Medium_Rectangle_1617.jpg

Related News

Kids-PK
Football School - 23.04.2025

Goalkeeper duo Hradecky and Schlich at Kids press conference

Two keepers, lots of questions: Werkself captain Lukas Hradecky and U19 goalkeeper Jesper Schlich visited the BarmeniaGothaer children’s press conference in partnership with the Bayer 04 Lions Club on Wednesday afternoon. The duo faced interesting and at times unusual questions from around 50 inquisitive young journalists in the press conference room at the BayArena.

Show more
Sporting Director Programme in der BayArena
Bayer 04 - 23.04.2025

Sporting Director Programme with Falkenberg, Southgate and Bierhoff at the BayArena

A large number of sporting directors and officials from big clubs across Europe came to the BayArena on Tuesday for the second seminar in the UEFA Sporting Director Programme (SDP) in cooperation with the ECA.

Show more
Janou Levels
Women - 22.04.2025

Janou Levels signs for VfL Wolfsburg

Full-back Janou Levels will leave Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the end of the season. The 24-year-old has activated her release clause and she will join Bundesliga rivals VfL Wolfsburg. She has signed a three-year contract.

Show more
Training am 22.04.2025
Bayer 04 - 22.04.2025

‘End the season as well as we can': Werkself train ahead of #B04FCA

After returning from Hamburg and a day off on Easter Monday, the Werkself players were back on the training ground at the BayArena on Tuesday morning. Following the session, Amine Adli was very positive in a media interview about the remaining four matches including the forthcoming home game against FC Augsburg (Saturday, 26 April, 15:30 CEST): "We will give our all to end the season as well as we can!"

Show more