Gerardo Seoane on…
…the first days in Zell am See-Kaprun: We had a relaxed journey here and are happy with everything to date. As with every year, we have great conditions here – the pitch is brilliant, the hotel is great. The crucial thing at a training camp above all is for us to have all the players together for a longer period of time. Then we have enough time to work with the individual players and also able to have lots of discussions as a team and individually.
…the timing of the training camp: As we wanted to have all the players on board at the training camp, we consciously decided to travel later this time. Last year a lot of players were still at the European Championships at the time of the training camp. Now we are all here and are already a step further on. That means we are able to be more targeted in our work this week. We want to put the content of the previous sessions into practice in the friendly against Panathinaikos and then the training content from the other days in the game against Udinese.
…the state of play with the Werkself: We've more or less had this set-up for over a year and that's an important point. At the start of last season, we faced one or two challenges above all due to the signing of a lot of young players in defence. They have all developed extremely well since then. Therefore, I believe we are much more solid.
Standing on the pitch where the Werkself players perform - for many Bayer 04 club members, this wish became reality at this year's Members' kickabout. Around 400 active participants of all ages took the opportunity to experience the BayArena from a new and special perspective. And there was also plenty going on in the stands: The event attracted more than 1,000 visitors in total and provided an atmospheric end to the season.
Show more
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.
Show more
Rogier Meijer is leaving Bayer 04 Leverkusen and returning to his native Netherlands: The 44-year-old will take over at Eredivisie club Sparta Rotterdam on 1 July. Meijer has been part of the Werkself coaching set-up since the start of the 2025/26 season - first as assistant coach to Erik ten Hag, then on Kasper Hjulmand's staff.
Show more
Following the final match of the 2025/26 season, the prevailing feeling was naturally one of disappointment after missing out on qualification for the Champions League. The Werkself finished the Bundesliga in sixth place, meaning they'll start the 2026/27 campaign in the Europa League. "But to talk negatively about everything now because of that would be wrong," stressed captain Robert Andrich following the final game, knowing that the past year at Bayer 04 was marked, more than almost any other, by the start of a new era and the courage to change – and in particular, the belief in a positive direction. Everyone was aware this process would need time. The first part of the 2025/26 season review.
Show more
