Simon Rolfes and Peter Bosz on…
…shared targets:
Rolfes: "Here at Bayer 04, we have ambitious targets in all three competitions – in the Bundesliga, the DFB Cup and the Europa League. We want to play attractive attacking football and develop talent. Those are the key elements of our approach to the game. Peter Bosz fits in very well with that. We are looking forward to achieving our shared targets with ambition and determination."
Bosz: "I'm very happy here. I've got to know the club very well in one year and I can work brilliantly here. I have a very good team available – there is room for improvement but we're working on that together. The aim for the club and myself is winning titles. That is possible over the next few years – even in the second half of the season. I believe if we can work together over the long term then we can achieve things here. Together with my team and the players I'd like to make a contribution to that."
…discussions on and the timing of the contract extension:
Rolfes: "There were positive signals from both sides early on. The many double-fixture weeks dominated the day-to-day business so we looked to the winter break for the chance to discuss a couple of issues in peace and quiet and to finalise the contract extension."
Bosz: "It was important that both sides – club and coach – discussed everything with each other before taking that step. Questions, like 'Can I work as I did before? What does the future look like?'. We had a number of discussions at different phases in the first half of the season. It felt very good from the start. But you have to be 100 per cent behind it. And now we are at the right point to make the final decision to continue to work together."
…participation in three competitions and targets:
Bosz: "Being in three competitions is what we want. That's our aspiration. In the Bundesliga we want to end up at the top and in the DFB Cup and the Europa League we want to go as far as we can and in the best case scenario even win a competition. It's my aspiration as coach to manage that without injuries and make sure the players are fresh. It's down to us to be successful."
…on keeping in touch with Bayern, Dortmund and Leipzig:
Bosz: It's a huge challenge. Clubs like Bayern, Dortmund and Leipzig have more money than we do. Money is important but it's not everything. It's a challenge to us to compete with these clubs. There are several other clubs who have the same aspirations to be at the top as we do. Every year we try to make it into the leading group."
…other potential transfers:
Rolfes: "We made a good winter signing with Exequiel Palacios. We are well-placed in terms of the squad and there are no urgent demands for any position. Nevertheless, we keep our ears open and always look to see if we can improve the squad. If the chance comes up then we'll take it."
St. Pauli are the visitors to Leverkusen for today’s 3.30pm CET kick-off on Matchday 13 in the Bundesliga, with some 3,000 fans from Hamburg coming to a sold-out BayArena. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game in our matchday news.
Show moreBayer 04 take on St. Pauli in the Bundesliga for the first time in 13 years in front of a sold-out BayArena crowd on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CET). Ahead of the game, head coach Xabi Alonso spoke about Pauli’s “structure and dynamic”, as well as options in attack in the absence of Patrik Schick and the final run to the end of the year.
Show moreFor the first time in 13 years, Bayer 04 welcome St. Pauli to the BayArena this Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CET). The promoted side have shown so far that that are a tough nut to crack, while last week’s first home win of the season proves they have potential in attack. Here’s all you need to know about our next opponents.
Show moreBayer 04 Women produced an excellent performance to beat Wolfsburg 1-0 at home on Friday night and knock the She-Wolves off top spot in the Google Pixel Bundesliga as the season reached its halfway stage. Cornelia Kramer got the only goal early in the second half in front of a crowd of 1,510 at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. The result makes it five straight wins in all competitions for Leverkusen, who go top overnight on 26 points – the best total in the club’s history from the first half of a Bundesliga season – ahead of the DFB Pokal holders with 25.
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