Back
5.01.2017Bayer 04

Karim Bellarabi: "I feel great!"

Karim Bellarabi is back – and how! Lactate tests were held at the first training session of the year in Orlando and nobody ran as long as fast as the Werkself wizard on the wings.
© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

But there was more to do after that. Bellarabi made his way to the hotel lobby for the first "04 questions from others, 04 questions from you." In his interview he talked about his time in rehab, looks to the future and answers fans questions submitted via Facebook and Twitter.

 

Karim, you were the fastest in the lactate test today. To be honest: How tough was it?
Karim Bellarabi: "It was really hard work – even though it was just running. But you're pushed right to the limit in the lactate tests and it can be tough. But everything went well and it was fun. I'm just glad to be back again."

Are you 100 per cent fit again?

Karim Bellarabi: "I feel really good and there’s no sign of the injury. I don't have problems from that point of view. If you want to put it as a percentage then perhaps I'm at 95 or 96 at the moment. I'll definitely make up the rest."

What did you most look forward to during your time in rehab?
Karim Bellarabi: "I just wanted one thing: to get back on the pitch as soon as possible. That's why I went there every day and put myself through the mill. But it's certainly been worth it!"

Following that difficult period: How much are you looking forward to the training camp and, above all, the second half of the season?
Karim Bellarabi: I'm really keen! The facilities here in Orlando are great and it's perfect for us to prepare for the second half of the season. We want to fight all the way!"

@alexis_M_29 Who was the most important coach for you in your career?
Karim Bellarabi: "There are two: firstly, Roger Schmidt but also Thorsten Lieberknecht from Braunschweig. I really learned a lot from both of them and developed a lot."

@Crash22Crash Have you ever faced an opponent quicker than yourself?
Karim Bellarabi: "I haven’t met one so far. (He laughs) No, that's a joke. Of course, there are lots of opponents who who are fast but nobody in particular springs to mind."

Markus Ernst: What do you think the chances are of qualifying for the Champions League again?
Karim Bellarabi: "The fact is we're ninth at the moment. But it's also a fact that we want to move up the table as quickly as possible. We want to do our best in the second half of the season and then see what happens at the end of the day."

Markus Sosnov: What tattoos have you got and what they mean to you?
Karim Bellarabi: "First, I have a tattoo of my mother and it's clear what that means. Then I've got an anchor and that represents my home town of Bremen. And I have a wing on each arm and that's supposed to symbolise an eagle because that's my favourite animal.”

© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

Related News

Tapsoba
Bayer 04 - 13.01.2026

Tapsoba sidelined by muscle injury

Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without centre-back Edmond Tapsoba in the coming weeks. The Burkina Faso international returned to the Werkself from the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco with a muscle injury.

Show more
Die PK vor dem Auswärtsspiel beim Hamburger SV | 17. Spieltag
Werkself-TV - 12.01.2026

Hjulmand ahead of #HSVB04: ‘Don't panic, stay calm and optimistic’

The Werkself are away to Hamburg SV at the end of the Hinrunde in the 2025/26 Bundesliga campaign. The match at the newly promoted club is on Tuesday night, 13 January (kick-off: 20:30 CET). Ahead of the first encounter with HSV since 2018, Kasper Hjulmand spoke about the strengths of the opponents, lessons learnt from the home defeat against VfB Stuttgart and provided a squad update.

Show more
Trainingslager der Frauen
Women - 11.01.2026

Algarve sunshine instead of sub-zero temperatures: Bayer 04 Women start winter training camp

In Germany, the temperatures are currently around zero, leaving even professional footballers freezing - but not the Bayer 04 Women. Roberto Pätzold's team have fled the cold to the south and are preparing for the second half of the season at a training camp in the Algarve, almost 2,000 kilometres away from home as the crow flies. The Leverkusen squad landed in Faro on Saturday morning and have already completed the first three training sessions over the weekend.

Show more
Team nach Abpfiff
Bundesliga - 11.01.2026

Werkself review #B04VfB: Honest words and looking ahead

It was a disappointing Saturday night. The Werkself lost 4-1 to VfB Stuttgart to start the new year on Bundesliga matchday 16 in 2025/26, a result that left both players and fans disappointed. "We played without any passion," said Alejandro Grimaldo honestly afterwards. Teammate Jarell Quansah was even more self-critical, emphasising: "We were miles off it in the first half. You can't put in a performance like that, especially in front of our own fans and I can only apologise to them, to be honest." Read on for the reaction, facts and stats from the clash with VfB Stuttgart in the Werkself review.

Show more