Lukas, this year you are preparing for the new season in Saalfelden for the first time. What's your first impressions of the new location?
Hradecky: The panorama with the steep mountainsides is obviously impressive. It does us good to have a change of scenery – even though we liked the other accommodation just as much. A big advantage here is the short distance between the hotel and the training ground and the hotel itself is outstanding. We’ll be able to work very well here over the next few days. We are looking forward to the week ahead and close cooperation with the whole team.
It is also the first training camp under Xabi Alonso. Has he given you a slight insight into what's coming up in the next few days and what the main focus will be?
Hradecky: There are lots of sessions on the agenda as well as events with the whole squad away from the pitch. That's important too. The atmosphere between the players, coaches and staff plays a big role if you want to be successful. That will develop even more here.
The signings of Granit Xhaka and Jonas Hofmann have led to great euphoria and anticipation amongst the fans looking forward to the coming season. Do you feel that positive mood as a team as well?
Hradecky: The atmosphere in the team is brilliant. The new lads have integrated well straightaway. They speak German, have loads of experience and bring absolutely the right qualities with them. Therefore, I'm certain that they will fit in brilliantly and contribute their qualities. I'm also very happy for our fans. What they and everybody in general in Leverkusen contributed last season, above all in Europe, was fantastic. Now I'm starting my sixth year at the club and I don't think we've had as many fans and children at the pitch at the start of preseason as we have this summer.
Patrick Schick and Robert Andrich have also travelled and are continuing their programs. How important mentally are days like this in and around the team?
Hradecky: Above all for the two of them it's good to see something else other than the weights room. The environment and the air here are great. That helps everybody including the team and the injured players. It's always better to work together than alone. It was definitely the right decision to take everybody.
For you it is, as previously mentioned, the sixth preseason with Bayer 04 and the ninth as a Bundesliga player. What are you aiming for in the coming season?
Hradecky: We all just want to start the season better than we did last year and are determined to produce a performance and winning culture that will dominate the whole season. Of course, the new players will obviously help. The signings have done us a load of good and we've hit the nail on the head. The dressing room is more settled. For everything to work out we need a good preseason and a good training camp. I definitely have a very good feeling for the coming weeks and months and I am in an absolute positive frame of mind!
With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
Show more
A successful fourth preseason friendly ahead of the start of the training camp: The Werkself secured a 3-0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The goals in what was a commanding and dominant performance by Leverkusen from the outset were scored by Ibrahim Maza (8'), Patrik Schick from the penalty spot (23’) and, in the second half, Montrell Culbreath with a header (79’). The team set off for their training camp in Blankenhain in the Weimarer Land region after the game.
Show more
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personal Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
Show more
You have voted – your ‘Team of the Quarter-Century’ has been decided! This historic selection, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2024, features honorary captains, Bundesliga champions, double winners and Champions League finalists. Edmond Tapsoba is the only player from the current Bayer 04 squad to make it into the starting XI, while his team-mate Patrik Schick is on the bench. Simon Rolfes, the current managing director sport, is also in the lie-up. A truly special team that brings together a quarter of a century of Bayer 04 history – and has left a decisive mark on the club.
Show more
Following Patrik Schick, Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Kerim Alajbegovic earlier this week, the next World Cup participant is back on the training ground in Leverkusen: On Thursday 30 July, Malik Tillman rejoined the squad, completing his first training session under head coach Carles Martínez.
Show more
