The morning session started in small groups with games in restricted space and then football tennis – there were some impressive rallies over the net. Then set pieces were practiced on the main pitch with the focus on crosses from the wings.
The official part of the first session of day ended after just more than an hour – but most of the players did not leave the pitch. Some played another round of football tennis with the others shooting at the goal minded by Patrick Pentz and the U19 keeper Oleksandr Petrenko with Alejandro Grimaldo taking a few free kicks.
In the afternoon, Patrik Schick talked to the media again for the first time in a long while. The striker underwent a successful operation in June at the Berlin Charité hospital and since then has been in rehab. The 27-year-old striker explained looking back: "The pain was frustrating, it was tough."
The Czechia international player was confident given the current state of play. "I'm happy that we’ve found the problem and that it's been resolved. Now I need to be patient but I'm very confident. It's very good to be here with the team and in this atmosphere – the panorama and the good air –for working on my comeback. I should be able to do without the crutches next week."
Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO since 2018, today celebrates his 59th birthday. After congratulations on site from the Bayer 04 group and a range of phone calls and text messages he faced a number of media interviews in the afternoon. Carro spoke about the good cooperation with sporting managing director Simon Rolfes as well as head coach Xabi Alonso and stressed that "continuity is an important factor in success – in all positions."
The sun emerged from between the clouds over Saalfelden just in time for the afternoon session. The fitness coaches including Ismael Camenforte Lopez had set up a range of drills on the training pitch. After a warm-up routine with the ball it was down to an intense physical workout. The outcome: tired but happy Werkself players.
Lukas Hradecky and Co. rounded off the last evening in the Hotel Gut Brandlhof with an enjoyable evening meal together.
Friday morning will bring the final – again open – session this year's training camp. It starts at 10.30 CEST. The Bayer 04 group will travel on to northern Spain in the afternoon. The Werkself are set to play Champions League participants Real Sociedad in San Sebastian on Saturday 29 July with the kick off at 18.00 CEST. The charity match is being played in aid of the Fundación Columbus, which raises funds for researching rare diseases and making these diseases respond to treatment through gene therapy. For head coach Xabi Alonso the journey to San Sebastian as a return to his hometown.
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month.
Show more
Kasper Hjulmand has led the Werkself back to winning ways and is back in the knockout phase of the UEFA Champions League with Bayer 04 after the 3-0 win against Villarreal on Wednesday evening. In an interview with the Werkself magazine at the BayArena in the team meeting room, directly opposite the dressing room, he provided some special insights for the current issue, which was published in January. A conversation with the 53-year-old coach about values, attitudes and personal experiences as well as interests outside of football.
Show more
The thrilling 3-1 win for Bayer 04 against Eintracht Frankfurt in the Hinrunde is a fond memory for Alejandro Grimaldo, with his brace from free kicks, and coach Kasper Hjulmand, who was in the dugout under the Cross for the first time. Now comes the return fixture in the metropolis on the River Main and after going out of the DFB Pokal and the Champions League, the full focus at Eintracht, currently managed by two interim coaches, is now on the Bundesliga. For their part, the Werkself will do everything in their power to continue the longest winning run against a Bundesliga club. The matchday news.
Show more
Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
Show more
The draw for the knockout play-offs of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League was made on Friday, 30 January and saw Bayer 04 paired with Olympiacos. It’s a reunion with the Greek side following the Werkself’s 2-0 loss in Athens on Matchday 7 of the league phase.
Show more
