In interview with bayer04.de, the 22-year-old talked about his own impressive development, interaction with his teammates on and off the pitch plus his role as en 'enforcer'.
Odi, with three wins in three games we can talk about a successful start to the season. What do you think are the reasons for that?
Kossounou: I think we have a different mentality this season. We are really on it and that's why our game is better. That process started in the pre-season and now we can see the result in the league. Everybody is performing well individually but, above all, also as a team. That gives us confidence.
How do you assess your development since your move to Leverkusen in the summer of 2021 and in which areas do you think you have made the biggest progress in?
Kossounou: There's a huge difference between the Belgian league and the Bundesliga. When I came here,I mainly needed to improve in the tactical area. Gerardo (Seoane, ed.) and Xabi (Alonso, ed.) both worked with me a lot to make me smarter. Now I've come on a long way.
Feeling good is a crucial factor in a good performance. Why are you so happy here in Leverkusen at the moment?
Kossounou: The atmosphere in the dressing room is brilliant – also the whole staff who work with you here everyday. Everybody gets on with each other. I look forward to coming here every day, training with the lads but also doing things away from the pitch. Of course, I'm very happy when my family can come to watch games but to be honest: The club now feels like a big family to me.
A good team is also needed for good individual performances. How did you see interaction in the defence and how do you communicate with each other?
Kossounou: In French. (He laughs) But not only the communication with the people next to me in Jona (Jonathan Tah, ed.) and Eddy (Edmond Tapsoba, ed.) is special. Each of us has different qualities and that produces a good mix and probably makes us so good as a group in the end. Eddy is strong on the ball and plays great passes. Jona is our leader in the centre, he communicates a lot and helps us and the team enormously with that. And I… My job is simply to keep every striker who gets close to us out of the way. That mostly works out really well. (He laughs)
A fresh look for the BayArena: The Bayer 04 stadium will have new seating in the form of folding seats for the 2026/27 campaign that will ensure significantly improved seating comfort and simplified movement within the rows of seats. As part of routine replacement after 17 years, fans of the Werkself were able to purchase the existing seats, used to witness the first German league title in the club's history. In addition, a large proportion of the seats will be donated to charitable projects, primarily in the local region. Bayer 04 fans can look forward to new, functional folding seats for the season opener at the beginning of August - still in the club colours of black and red, of course. A glimpse at the BayArena during the refurbishment.
Show more
On Monday evening, 8 June, around 250 people came to the Bürgerhaus Baumberg at the invitation of Bayer 04 to find out details of the new plans for the campus on Alfred-Nobel-Straße at an information event. More compact, greener and with many advantages for Monheim am Rhein - those are the aims. There were lively discussions for around three hours and some misunderstandings were cleared up.
Show more
Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
Show more
When Malik Tillman arrived at Bayer 04 Leverkusen from PSV Eindhoven last summer, he did more than just add attacking midfield strength to the team — he reconnected the club with a unique and understated American lineage that stretches back more than three decades.
Show more
Bayer 04 are away to third-division club SV Wehen Wiesbaden in the first round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal. That was the outcome of the draw on Saturday night, 6 June, at the German Football Museum in Dortmund. The Werkself first round tie will be played between 21 and 24 August. The exact date has yet to be finalised.
Show more
