Back
26.07.2017Bayer 04

#B04inAustria - Day 3: VIPs and a water fight

As on the first day, the third day at the training camp in Zell am See/Kaprun took place under dark skies and rain. To that extent, Bayer 04 players who enjoyed the sliding tackle may well have been excited but they looked out of the window on Wednesday morning – and perhaps for the goalkeepers too. According to the motto: Once you are wet, sliding is twice the fun.
20170726_KSVerlag_JS_1051.jpg

Extra shift for Rambo Özcan

That impression was confirmed by Rambo Özcan. While his fellow players had already arrived back at the team hotel on the team bus, the number two to Bernd Leno put in extra work with goalkeeping coach David Thiel: The task at hand was to chase after low balls and cut them off. The 33-year-old Austrian was clearly enjoying himself. And the wet turf played its part too.

Play, fun and set pieces

The Werkself pros tasted fresh air in their football boots twice on Tuesday. In the first session, Heiko Herrlich's team practice set pieces and switching play. The strenuous training sessions on Tuesday made their mark on the legs of the Werkself players but the defensive part of the team gave their all and got stuck in to prevent conceding goals. Both teams develop their own strategy. Effort after effort when begging before Stefan Kießling finally got the ball over the line. The following celebrations underlined the relief at the success of their own creativity. And the joy. Kevin Volland certainly enjoyed the latter with two of his shots from free kicks impressively landing in the back of the net. The first skillfully in the top corner and the second bottom corner with the help of the wall. Never mind, the fact it went in was the main thing.

Water fight in the afternoon

The persistent rain saw the second session developed into a true water fight. Sometimes the ball got stuck in a puddle and others the difficult surface prevented a clean finish. The toughest opponent was often the pitch. Not least with efforts on goal. Team-mates slipping up entertained the others including the coaching staff.

VIP guests at training

The Werkself not only attracted fans to the Alois Latini Stadium. A number of football VIPs attended the morning session. In addition to the Bayer 04 members of management Rudi Völler and Jonas Boldt, training session was watched by the Germany team manager Oliver Bierhoff, assistant coach Marcus Sorg and DFB manager Thomas Beheshti. Plus former Bayer 04 Pro Stefan Reinartz and Marcus Kauczinski, former coach Bundesliga team FC Ingolstadt.

Football on mobile phones

The time spent waiting for the evening meal saw Sven Bender do what he likes doing best: football. He sat down in the corner of the hotel lobby and watched – later accompanied by his brother Lars – parts of the Regional League game of his first professional club 1860 Munich broadcast live. The evening entertainment continued after the meal. Unfortunately he was unable to do anything about the 1-0 defeat at TSV. Buchbach.

Takeover by Danger and Kevin Volland

There was a highly amusing story on the Bayer 04 Instagram channel today. The two mates Kevin Volland and Joel Pohjanpalo gave Bayer 04 fans an exclusive and amusing insight into the Werkself daily routine. It's worth looking in. Click here for the Instagram channel: >> www.instagram.com/bayer04fussball

#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.

Related News

LIVE ab 14.50 Uhr | Bayer 04 - KRC Genk | Testspiel
Werkself-TV - 29.07.2026

LIVE from 14:50 CEST | Bayer 04 vs KRC Genk | Friendly

The Werkself continue their 2026/27 pre-season preparations with their third friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion on Wednesday 29 July (kick-off 15:00 CEST). Werkself-TV is broadcasting the match live and in full in a stream from 14:50 CEST...

Testspiele_Live_Uebersicht_Genk.jpg
Bayer 04 - 28.07.2026

Log on and watch live: Stream Werkself pre-season games

Bayer 04 are back on the pitch. Following the first training sessions, the Werkself play the first pre-season friendly on Saturday, July 18. The match against Oberliga club Sportfreunde Baumberg kicks off at 15:30 CEST in Monheim am Rhein. Fans unable to attend the match can watch head coach Carles Martínez’s first game in charge for free via a livestream at bayer04.de and on the Bayer 04 app, as well as on Werkself.tv (exclusively for members). Just log on and watch the games live. All the other Werkself preseason friendlies leading up to the 2026/27 season will also be streamed live for free.

Show more
Bayer 04-Fans in der BayArena
Bayer 04 - 28.07.2026

New season, improved catering: Enhanced service at the BayArena

Bayer 04 is redesigning the public catering at the BayArena and Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion for the start of the 2026/27 season. Together with new catering partner Aramark, processes will be developed and the service at the stadium will be improved in a targeted way.

Show more
Bayer 04-Frauen
Women - 28.07.2026

Bayer 04 confirmed as a DFB women’s talent development centre

The German Football Association (DFB) has officially recognised Bayer 04 as a centre for the development of female talent for the 2026/27 season. The club was awarded that role on 1 January 2026, and this status has now been renewed.

Show more
Andrea Natali
Bayer 04 - 28.07.2026

Andrea Natali joins AZ Alkmaar on permanent deal

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have sold young defender Andrea Natali to AZ Alkmaar on permanent terms. The 18-year-old Italian was on loan at the Dutch club last season, where he mainly played for the reserve team in the second division.

Show more