
Peter Bosz on...
...the international between Germany and the Netherlands: “It will definitely be fun. Two teams are playing each other where I know a number of the players. I'm assuming Germany will win. They are at home and strong in every position. Above all with Jona, Jule and Kai: If Joachim Löw plays the three of them then Holland don't stand a chance. (He says with a smile).”
...the Bayer 04 injury list: “With the exception of Joel Pohjanpalo, all the players have been training for the last three weeks. I'm happy about that. That meant we were able to do a lot in terms of fitness and our way of playing. Our tasks as coaches consists of being able to put the best players on the pitch, to continually improve their fitness and ensure they play well together. We're on the right path. The players are fresh and fit.”
...Daley Sinkgraven: “The pace of the game in the Bundesliga is higher than in the Eredivisie. He'll have to get used to that. You don't even have much time in training as I always expect 100 per cent from my players. They close down space and you have to think and act quickly. Daley is ready now. I never worried about signing him.”
...Sinkgraven's game: “Daley is a former attacker who moved back under me. He can be very aggressive and he has to be. At the same time he's a good player. He rarely loses possession and plays a good final ball. And he's also very consistent. He played the whole season under me at Ajax.”
...chances of playing for national teams at Bayer 04: “The example of Lucas Alario shows you can make yourself available for the national team here. It is possible. Lucas hasn't played for a long time but he earned his call up with good performances in the final stages of last season. The same applies to Wendell. I can't really judge how good the competition is in the Brazil team but I'm sure they follow his performances back home in Brazil.”
...Wendell's development: “It's crucial for him: He has to be focused. If he does that then he has great quality – both offensively and defensively. If he doesn't do that then he drops off and doesn't have the desire. As in the friendly against Watford. But his development is good. Absolutely. He looks more solid than in the second half of last season. I can't say whether that's linked to having Daley as competition or whether he feels the confidence of the coach now. And his German continues to improve. And it's good for him that he is now on the team committee. He's taking on more responsibility. For example, for Moussa Diaby. If you look at the two together then you get the impression that Wendell speaks French. (He laughs). He can’t actually speak a word… Of course, Wendell is a great guy. But the only thing that counts in the end is his performance on the pitch.”


Decision made: Germany will submit a bid to the IOC (International Olympic Committee) to host the 2036, 2040 or 2044 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Munich. The representatives of the German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) voted for Munich over Cologne-Rhine-Ruhr at their extraordinary meeting in Baden-Baden on Saturday 26 September. Berlin had already withdrawn from the vote a few days earlier.
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Former Werkself star Michael Ballack, who won the German Footballer of the Year award in 2002 while playing in Leverkusen, celebrates his 50th birthday on Saturday. Bayer 04 sends him its best wishes!
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A challenging start to what will hopefully be a long journey: The Bayer 04 women’s team kick off their new DFB Pokal campaign on Sunday (14:00 CEST) against second-division leaders FC Viktoria Berlin. Coach Roberto Pätzold expects stiff resistance in the capital – and is counting on his team’s strong away form in the Bundesliga so far this term.
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Attention Werkself fans: In addition to tickets for the floodlit home match against Werder Bremen, tickets are now also available for the Bayer 04 women’s team’s two subsequent fixtures against Eintracht Frankfurt and Hamburger SV at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. Both matches in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga will take place at family-friendly kick-off times on Saturday afternoons. Here is the latest information on matchday ticket sales.
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