19 Werkself pros were available to Heiko Herrlich in the first session on Friday morning but the boss was till without absentees Lukas Hradecky, Charles Aránguiz, Panos Retsos, Joel Pohjanpalo, Dominik Kohr, and the two World Cup participants Julian Brandt and Tin Jedvaj. The head coach brought in three U19 players to boost the numbers: Ayman Azhil, Jan Boller and Adrian Stanilewicz had the chance to train with the first team.
Over-punctual - ten minutes ahead of the set time - the first players went onto the training ground, including birthday boy Wendell, who was serenaded by his team-mates on his 25th birthday. The Brazilian was accompanied by fellow countryman new signing Paulinho, who joined the first team squad for the first time on the training ground. After the warm-up routine, he went onto a neighbouring pitch to carry on working on his own. "We can't forget that Paulinho broke his arm in March and hasn't touched a ball in training since then. We don't want to take any risks and we''ll introduce him step by step," said Heiko Herrlich after the session. The 18-year-old will not feature in tomorrow's friendly at Siegen: "He is due to train with the team in a week's time and only then can we thinking about playing him."
While Leon Bailey, Karim Bellarabi and Co. focused on working with the ball, passing drills and moves, their team-mate Dominik Kohr was not available but Herrlich is expecting him to return. Last Tuesday, the 24-year-old slightly twisted his knee. "His knee was sore so we rested him yesterday and the day before. Dominik had treatment again today and it's all looking good," said Herrlich. "We're very optimistic he will be able to play for a half against Siegen."
The Werkself coach also offered a prognosis on Charles Aránguiz (rehab after knee problems): "We've increased the therapy to eradicate the pain. That means he cannot be subjected to too much work at the moment. He should be able to join in at the training camp next week."
Issa Traoré is moving from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Slovakian top-flight side AS Trencin. The club has loaned the centre-back out for one year to this year’s ninth-placed team in the Slovakian league.
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At the U19 European Championship in Wales, the Germany U19 national team lost their third and final group match 4-0 to Spain. Several regulars, including Bayer 04 players Montrell Culbreath and Francis Onyeka (on loan to SV Elversberg), who had combined for four goals and assists in the two previous victories, did not feature,. Germany had already secured their place in the semi-finals with a game to spare.
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Two weeks into the preseason, the Bayer 04 Women have secured their first victory. Coach Roberto Pätzold’s team won their first friendly 2–0 against Bundesliga newcomers Mainz 05. In front of 160 spectators at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, the two summer signings, Maja Sternad (80’) and Justine Brandau (90’), scored for the Black and Reds.
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