Back
23.07.2020Bayer 04

Bosz ahead of training start: Control workloads as best as possible

The two-week break after the extraordinary season at a national level ended on Thursday evening with the resumption of training ahead of the Europa League restart with the Werkself taking on Glasgow Rangers in the second leg of the Round of 16 on 6 August (kick-off: 18.55 CET). Ahead of the first session at the BayArena, Bayer 04 head coach Peter Bosz talked at an online press conference about…

…his personal break ahead of training restarting: I found it difficult to switch off. On the one hand, the disappointment with the outcome of the cup final lasted a bit longer. On the other hand, I obviously planned the start of training with Simon Rolfes (sporting director, ed.) and my coaching staff, and I watched top international football nearly every night.

…the results of the coronavirus testing on Wednesday and Thursday: Everybody tested negative in both sets of tests.

…the forthcoming Europa League tournament in North-Rhine Westphalia: It’s interesting, very interesting. We’re in a good position in the Round of 16 tie against Glasgow (Rangers) - (3-1 win in the first leg, ed.) - but we’ve still got the second leg to play. It is possible to win a title in just four games in two weeks. We, the coaches,are prepared and now we’ll get the team ready. But it doesn’t make sense to look further than the game against Glasgow Rangers.

…the circumstances around preparing for the Europa League tournament: It was important for the players to get the two weeks off to clear their minds and switch off – even though that is difficult in such a short space of time. We’re facing a completely different run-in than for the Bundesliga restart in May. The break was short and we’ve been able to gather important experience in relation to the new circumstances since the restart.

…content of the preparations: The basic fitness is there and that hasn’t changed in the two weeks. Therefore, we don’t need such a long and intense period of preparation as we would in the summer. We’ll see where the players are up to in the training sessions.

…the current situation re the squad: The players are the same for the Europa League as with the Bundesliga and the DFB Cup. We can’t use loan players or summer signings. On the new season: I’m a coach who likes to work with a small squad. Quality ahead of quantity. But it doesn’t make any sense to me to deal with this issue before the Europa League. We want to be in this tournament to the end. Then we’ll work hard on planning.

…the future of Kai Havertz: Kai is with us for the start of training and I expect him to be available for the Europa League.

…the start of the Bundesliga shortly after the Europa League tournament: Nobody can know whether this short break will be an advantage or disadvantage. This situation has never happened before and it’s new to everybody. We’re trying to deal with the circumstances as best we can and see that we benefit from it. We won’t have long to prepare and the players are coming off the back of a heavy workload. It’s physically impossible to give your all for 90 minutes in so many games in such a short space of time. At some point, the body says stop. That’s what I fear as a coach. Therefore, it’s about planning and controlling the workload as best as you.

…his impression of football in other European leagues: I like the football more than I thought I would. Normally, the spectators provide a special atmosphere. I thought the games played behind closed would turn into friendlies. But that’s not the case. I like the level. I’ve watched some big and interesting games over the past few weeks.

Related News

Rudi Vollborn
Bayer 04 - 01.07.2025

Rudi recounts…: Vollborn's July highlights

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
Fanwelt
Fans - 30.06.2025

Fanwelt closed on 30 June

To all Bayer 04 fans: The Fanwelt will be closed all day next Monday 30 June. This is due to preparations for the change of kit supplier from Castore to New Balance on Tuesday 1 July.

Show more
Julie Jorde
Women - 28.06.2025

Julie Jorde makes permanent move to Brøndby IF

The Norway U23 international Julie Jorde has completed the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Brøndby IF. The twelve-time champions of Denmark have signed the midfielder on permanent terms after her loan move from the Bundesliga to Denmark in the winter.

Show more
Bayer 04
Bayer 04 - 28.06.2025

Not the first time at the BayArena: Profile of Abdoulaye Faye

It is almost two years since Bayer 04 new signing Abdoulaye Faye first stepped foot into the BayArena as a player for the Swedish club BK Häcken in the opening match in the 2023/24 Europa League campaign. A day before his nineteenth birthday, the central defender did not play in the 4-0 win for the Werkself but it was "an incredible night" for him on 21 September 2023 as he explained in his first interview on bayer04.de. "I watched the players and saw the fans. I liked it." It was also the first European night early on in his career. He only joined the then champions of Sweden in the cold north of Europe from his home in Senegal a few weeks before that special moment. Bayer04.de profiles our new defender.

Show more
Abdoulaye Faye wechselt zu Bayer 04 | Erstes Interview
Werkself-TV - 27.06.2025

Faye: ‘Bayer 04 are the best team for my development’

Welcome, Abdoulaye Faye. The 20-year-old Senegalese central defender joins Leverkusen from top-flight Swedish club BK Häcken. In his first interview he talks about his move to Bayer 04 and his targets with the Werkself.

Show more