The first aim of the Werkself players in the morning – whether on the players floor in the hotel or at breakfast – led to Adam Hlozek. The Czech international celebrated his 21st birthday on Tuesday. He is the second birthday boy from the squad at the current training camp after Gustavo Puerta turned 20 on Sunday. Many happy returns, Adam!
Fernando Carro (CEO), goalkeeper Niklas Lomb and goalkeeping coach David Thiel will also celebrate their birthdays at the training camp.
The good news also spread to the training ground in the morning: Jonathan Tah again took part in large sections of the training together with his teammates. The defender trained on his own on Monday due to a blow to his thigh in training. After the warm-up routine, Tah and Co. completed moves in tight spaces with plenty of shots on goal.
Patrik Schick watched the first session of the day from the touchline. The striker did not want to miss the chance to observe his teammates from close-up. Schick is currently undergoing an individual rehab programme in the team hotel following his groin operation last month.
After the morning session, sporting managing director Simon Rolfes talked to the media present about the new signings and the current situation with squad planning: "We have taken the most important steps and we have the key elements for the team. Our new signings are all candidates for the first eleven. Of course, there may well be one or two changes in the squad. But the main positions are sorted and we've done what we wanted to do." On Jonathan Tah, the 41-year-old explained: "He certainly features in our plans." And in response to the question of whether teammate Edmond Tapsoba might be transferred, Rolfes said: "Eddy is a really important player for us. He still has a long time to go on his contract and therefore there is no reason for us to think about it."
Rolfes also talked about the targets for the forthcoming season: "The new signings have done the team good. Nevertheless, being ambitious means working hard for it every day. We still have a lot to do. We have to be right at it for the cup tie and the first Bundesliga matchday. And that means having to prepare well here."
The session in late afternoon was held in the hotel’s indoor tennis court due, in part, to the weather. Strengthening exercises were followed by recovery and stretching. Several players used the unusual location for a short tennis match. Florian Wirtz, Nadiem Amiri and Amine Adli demonstrated they know how to handle felt balls as well as footballs.
Day four in Saalfelden tomorrow again starts with an open training session in the morning – starting at 10.30 CEST. After lunch there will be a range of media events for several Werkself players, head coach Xabi Alonso and sporting managing director Simon Rolfes. After that there will be a team event for the whole travelling Bayer 04 group and a joint team meal in the evening.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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