Build-up to Augsburg game - Paulinho a 'real option'

For the first training session after the 2-0 home win against FC Nürnberg on Saturday, Peter Bosz and his fellow coaches had the full squad to work with the exception of long-term injuries Karim Bellarabi, Joel Pohjanpalo and Leon Bailey, who suffered a hamstring injury in the game against Nürnberg. The Werkself practised short passing and shooting in an hour-long workout. Paulinho worked on his own for the last quarter of an hour while his team-mates had a practice match. Following the loss of the two regular starters Bellarabi and Bailey, Bosz sees the 18-year-old as a "real option" on the wing: "He's always in the squad and often comes off the bench – that shows we have great confidence in him." However, Bosz did not commit himself to starting the youngster against FC Augsburg: "We're trying to build him up slowly. He has to be ready – and he's getting closer bit by bit."

'We've done our defensive homework'

So it remains to be seen  who the coach will opt for on the wings on Friday night. "Leon and Karim have been extremely important for us – Important for the system we've played in the whole of the second half of the season. But we have backup of the necessary quality," said Lukas Hradecky who is looking for the Werkself to get points at Augsburg following the victories at Stuttgart and against Nürnberg to keep in the race for a European qualification spot. "We needed the two wins. It wasn't our best performance in terms of football – but we dominated the games  and did our defensive homework better than in the previous three games. Nürnberg hardly had a chance – and Stuttgart didn't have any clear-cut opportunities either. That will have to our starting point at Augsburg," said the Finland international. 

Leon Bailey visits the soccer school

While the Werkself completed the usual work on the training ground, Leon Bailey had an appointment at the media centre at the BayArena. As part of the Easter camp of the Bayer 04 Soccer School, he visited the kids in the press conference room and faced questions from the youngsters before signing shirts and autograph cards with the obligatory group photo following on as well. An unforgettable afternoon for the young ones who were really happy to see Leon Bailey close-up.

Fourth Bayer 04 goalkeepers day

For Bailey and the rest of the Werkself outfield players that was the end of the day's activities in and around the BayArena – for Lukas Hradecky, Ramazan 'Rambo' Özcan and Thorsten Kirschbaum the day's work was not over after the training session in the morning: Bayer 04 again organised an annual goalkeepers day. The Kurtekotten Academy provided the venue for the fourth goalkeepers day with all the Bayer 04 shot-stoppers centre stage –  from the U8s through to the pros. Under the guidance of Hradecky and Co. plus goalkeeping coach David Thiel, the young goalies were able to pick up tips and tricks from their role models.