
Jeremie, what's your impression of the team at the moment?
Frimpong: Training is good and the team is generally in good shape. We've won the last three games and built up a lot of confidence. That's how we have to, and want to, carry on up to the winter break.
You scored your first Bundesliga goal in the 3-1 win against RB Leipzig.
Frimpong: It was really great and also very important in a game against a very good opponent. But I’m not resting on that moment of success but continuing to work hard on my game. There's a long way to go in this season.

You joined Bayer 04 from Celtic a year ago. What differences have you identified up to now between the Scottish Premiership and the Bundesliga?
Frimpong: It took a while to settle in here but it was a big step forward for me. Every game in the Bundesliga is hard-fought, intensive and tough. You can never take it easy even against the team bottom of the table. There are lots of young, fresh and quick lads here while opponents in Scotland often included several older players.
Your former club from Glasgow was one of the two top teams in Scotland. You often had to go into every game with a very attacking approach as the opponents used to defend deep.
Frimpong: At Celtic we usually always had the ball except for possibly against Rangers, Hibs or Aberdeen. As a defender I was mostly involved up front as well. I have to be everywhere in the Bundesliga now: attacking and defending. But that's great fun and it presents me with new challenges.
This season, you've got the most minutes on the pitch of all outfield players in the Werkself squad. How’s your fitness going into the run-in to the end of the year?
Frimpong: Of course, you do get heavy legs but you mustn't think about it. You have to recover well, sleep a lot and eat well. In addition: I love this game. Being on the pitch in every match is the best thing that can happen to a football player.

Panagiotis, known as Panos, Retsos wore the Bayer 04 jersey for three years. Including his loan spells, he was under contract with the Werkself for a total of four and a half years. "It's a very special club for me," said the 27-year-old, who returned to his boyhood club Olympiacos in 2022, in an interview with bayer04.de. The former Leverkusen man is now captain and a first choice for the Werkself's next opponents in the UEFA Champions League. Ahead of the clash on Tuesday night, 20 January (kick-off: 21:00 CET), Retsos talks about his fond memories of his time in Leverkusen and the imminent reunion with some of his former team-mates. He also talks about who brought him to Leverkusen and why he likes getting older.
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Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without goalkeeper Mark Flekken and forward Nathan Tella for the time being.
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After a week in the Algarve, the Bayer 04 Women returned home on Saturday afternoon. The Werkself had six training sessions, two friendlies and a lot of time together as a team. Roberto Pätzold's team will be back in action in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga next Friday for the start of matchday 15.
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"We didn’t make the right decision at the right moments," said captain Robert Andrich after the 1-0 defeat away to TSG Hoffenheim, where Bayer 04 endeavoured to control the game but failed to score. The Werkself also had two enforced substitutions due to injuries. Nevertheless, the coach, captain and debutant Janis Blaswich are positive about the coming weeks. The Werkself review.
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