In a 90-minute session in wind and rain with a temperature of ten degrees, the focus was on passing and moves as well as sprints. Head coach Gerardo Seoane was able to welcome back the first player from international duty in the shape of Charles Aránguiz. Aránguiz played for Chile on Friday night in a friendly against Morocco (0-2). The midfielder played the first 45 minutes for La Roja in his 95th international appearance.
More good news: Andrey Lunev was back on the training ground for the first time after recovering from a thigh injury. The keeper worked with goalkeeping coach David Thiel.
Amine Adli was involved in much of full training today as well as working on his own. “Amine is on the right track. He still needs to complete endurance tests before getting the all clear from the medical section. The main aim is to correctly assess the recovery from injury as best as possible to minimise the risk as much as we can,” Seoane reported to the media after the session. In addition, the coach included three U19 players in the 16-strong Werkself training group: Keeper Maximilian Neutgens, midfielder Ingyom Jung and striker Noah Pesch.
Florian Wirtz trained on his own at the same time in the neighbouring Ulrich Haberland Stadium. “He’s working to a timetable and is already able to do some things more dynamically. Nevertheless, there’s still a fair way to go,” explained the Swiss coach.
The 43-year-old team boss drew a positive conclusion from recent training sessions: “The part of the squad that’s here has been committed in training, has shown good energy and readiness. I see a team on the pitch that is pulling its weight and trying daily to improve.” For the forthcoming match against Bayern Munich, video analysis and individual discussions will come into play in addition to physical training in the next few days.
Lukas Hradecky and Co. will have the backing of a large number of Black and Red fans at the Allianz Arena: 2,441 tickets have been sold.
To celebrate the 46th birthday of Michael Ballack, Werkself TV brings you his best goals for Bayer 04. HERE is the video.
Michael Ballack joined Bayer 04 Leverkusen from FC Kaiserslautern in the summer of 1999. Under the Bayer Cross, the former Germany captain with the number 13 shirt developed into a world-class player before moving on to Bayern Munich (2002 to 2006) and Chelsea (2006 to 2010). Ballack ended his career where it took off: at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The midfielder with a goal threat made 155 appearances and scored 42 goals (28 assists) in five years at Bayer 04.
Another birthday boy in the Bayer 04 family: Fitness coach Markus Müller is 37 today. Müller joined Leverkusen from Borussia Mönchengladbach at the start of the 2022/23 season after spending six years as a fitness coach with his previous club. Müller, who completed a degree at the German Sports University in Cologne, also worked in the academy at Borussia Dortmund for two years.
The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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After six and a half years, Exequiel Palacios is leaving the Bundesliga and moving from Bayer 04 to the Premier League. The Argentine, who as a Werkself player won the World Cup with his national team four years ago and finished as runners-up at this summer’s tournament, will play for newly promoted English side Ipswich Town with immediate effect. The 27-year-old, whose contract in Leverkusen was due to run until 30 June 2030, joined Bayer 04 in January 2020 as a promising young talent. He steadily developed into one of the best defensive midfielders in the German top flight.
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When Exequiel Palacios moved from the Argentinian club River Plate to Bayer Leverkusen on 1 January 2020, the then 21-year-old could not have imagined just how successful the next six and a half years would be for him. Pala, as he is known, had already won the Copa Libertadores – the most prestigious competition in South American club football – with River Plate. But there were still so many more trophies to come.
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To mark Exequiel Palacios’s departure, we’ve put together a compilation of the midfielder’s finest and most important goals from his six-and-a-half years at the club.
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