Bayer 04 Brazil Tour – Media event with Carro, Rolfes and ten Hag

Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, on…

…the reasons for holding the training camp in Brazil: "Everyone who loves football also loves Brazil. This country has always had top clubs and top players. As a club with an international perspective, it very important for us to be here. We want to have a presence abroad to represent our brand and the Bundesliga. Therefore, we saw Brazil as an ideal location – also because Bayer AG has a big presence here."

…Flamengo and the development of football in Brazil: "We have good communication and good connections with Flamengo. They are a top club with impressive players. Overall the quality of the Brazilian league and the teams here is very high. We've seen that recently, in particular at the Club World Cup. The number of members and followers of clubs in South America is also extraordinarily high. I have great respect for that."

Managing director sport Simon Rolfes on…

…first impressions of a football crazy Brazil: "This country is incredibly beautiful. When I go jogging early in the morning I see people playing footvolley on the beach. Renato Augusto always used to play it with us back in the day – and now I see it every day. It's something special for us to be here and to start our preseason here. Bayer 04 is known for its long history of Brazilian players. You can feel the incredible passion for football in this country. And we will be very happy to take that passion back to Germany."

squad planning at Bayer 04: "We have let several world-class players go. It's never easy to replace them like for like. But nor are our ideas either. The DNA of this club is, above all, to develop new players and new talents. That has worked very well in recent years. With Kai Havertz, who we developed into a top player and were able to transfer to Chelsea. The replacement then was Florian Wirtz, a 16-year-old lad, who is now one of the best players in the world."

Head coach Erik ten Hag on…

…his first impressions and tomorrow's friendly: "It's a pleasure to be here and to prepare for the new season here. It gives us energy. It's exciting as it's the first trip with the new team. We are very much looking forward to the friendly (to be broadcast on Sky, DAZN and for Bayer 04 members on Werkself TV, ed.). Flamengo are well known for developing a lot of good players. The U20 side is a very strong team and they are in the middle of their preseason. It's the first friendly for us. We are looking forward to it and are excited about the match."

…his targets with the Werkself: "I know the structure of the club well plus I had a lot of discussions with Fernando and Simon. Bayer 04 have been very successful in recent years. Now there have been big changes. Therefore, a strong organisation with good management and staff is even more important to maintain continuous success. I want to return to Leverkusen after this training camp with a better team. Our attitude must always be: Good is never good enough. And we want to ring in a new area with that mindset."

The media event with Carro, Rolfes and ten Hag in full: