Day 4 blog: Gutiérrez on the pitch – Belocian faces media | Training camp in the Weimarer Land region

+++ 20:31: Training camp day four comes to an end +++

Back at the team hotel, the lads have just finished their dinner. After yet another delicious meal, the day is now drawing to a close. We’d like to take this opportunity to say goodnight and see you tomorrow!

+++ 17.48: Back to work 💪🥵 +++

Lunch, recovery, recharging the batteries – and then back into the golf buggies. In the afternoon, the Werkself returned to the training ground, where the second session of the day was on the agenda. They kicked off with a strength-building session in the fitness area, accompanied by loud, motivating beats. Head coach Carles Martínez then called his squad together for a team meeting before they finally took to the pitch. There, the intensive training in the Weimarer Land region continued. Mobility drills were followed by a few rounds of rondo, followed by tactical drills for both attacking and defensive players. Meanwhile, the goalkeepers, led by Mark Flekken, worked on their build-up play.

+++ 16:17: Martínez and García on a winning mentality and their style of football 🎤💯 +++

As part of the training camp, head coach Carles Martínez and his long-standing assistant Pol García took time out to give an exclusive joint interview to Werkself TV. They spoke openly about their first few weeks at Bayer 04, their expectations of their own work, the coaching staff and the squad, as well as the style of football they want the team to play. They emphasised the importance of a winning mentality within the team, commented on cultural and personal differences in the world of football, and also outlined their goals for the coming season. But see for yourselves!

WATCH THE INTERVIEW

+++ 12:54: Belocian on form and his team-mates 💬🤝 +++

Following the morning training session, defender Jeanuel Belocian spoke to the media. The 21-year-old said: “I feel really good, I’m in good shape and I’m simply enjoying every day here!” Looking ahead to the season, he said: “Of course I want to play a lot, but I’m still young and have a lot to learn from our experienced players like Eddy (Edmond Tapsoba, ed.), Loïc (Badé) or Lucas (Vázquez).” Speaking about his time so far at the training camp in Blankenhain, the Frenchman added: “It’s a great atmosphere for us to gel as a team and prepare for the season.”

+++ 11:28: Gutiérrez is right in the thick of it in training 💪⚽ +++

Now that’s what a warm welcome from new team-mates looks like! On Wednesday morning, Bayer 04 announced the  signing of Spanish left-back Miguel Gutiérrez from Napoli. And the 25-year-old goes straight into the first training session of the day. However, even before Gutiérrez took his first steps onto the pitch in his Werkself training shirt, the team formed a guard of honour and welcomed the new signing with loud applause and broad smiles all round. The new Werkself number 3 then got stuck in straight away.

Gutiérrez first took part in the warm-up session with the rest of the squad, before completing an individual session with fitness coach Jonas Rath. Next up is the tactical part of the training session, an eleven-a-side drill with the 25-year-old rejoining the group. He has now completed his first few minutes training alongside his new team-mates.

+++ 08:53: The next open session 🔜🔥 +++

On day four, too, we say: Good morning! The Werkself again awoke to bright sunshine over the hills of the Weimarer Land at their training camp here in Blankenhain. The lads are gradually trickling in for breakfast, spreading out in the dining room or out on the terrace, where they enjoy the (still) pleasant temperatures against a stunning backdrop. Incidentally, from the terrace you can also see the training pitches in the distance – and that brings us straight to the point, because today is all about more training sessions that are sure to be intense again!

As usual, this morning kicks off with an open training session, followed by a second session after lunch. Of course, we will keep you up to date again today.