Bayer 04 adopted the 2G status as an access requirement for entry to the BayArena early in the current season. In addition, the two managing directors Fernando Carro and Rudi Völler have again and again emphasised in recent weeks that the coronavirus pandemic can only be brought under control through a high vaccination rate. And team captain Lukas Hradecky joined in the appeal after the Bundesliga match at RB Leipzig (3-1), played behind closed doors, to roll up sleeves: "I advise everybody to get vaccinated. That's the only thing that will help."
The Leverkusen squad members are leading the way by setting a good example. After the Monday morning session the players who were vaccinated in the summer received a booster at the BayArena. Hradecky and Co. are being given the chance to recover with a day off from training on Tuesday. Wednesday will mark the start of preparations for the home game against Fürth.
In addition to the Werkself players, the training and support staff were offered third vaccinations on Monday. The rest of the Bayer 04 staff will have the chance to boost their vaccination protection on Friday, 3 December. All members of the first-team squad and staff at Bayer 04 are now either vaccinated or recovered.
Karim Bellarabi had a different medical problem to deal with at the weekend. The striker, recovering from a muscle injury, had a bout of tonsillitis. The 31-year-old was unable to travel to Leipzig and he started a course of antibiotics. Bellarabi should be able to train with the team again over the course of the week.
It has been even longer since Timothy Fosu-Mensah was alongside his teammates at the BayArena. When the Dutchman, who suffered a torn cruciate at the end of February, will be back in in a Leverkusen shirt was alluded to by head coach Gerardo Seoane on Monday: "He will definitely play in December." Albeit not in the final group match in the Europa League away to Ferencváros on 9 November. As it was unclear in the summer as to when Fosu-Mensah would be available again and there are only a limited number of places in the squad, the defender was not registered for the group stage.
A scare at training on Monday morning: Iker Bravo was left on the ground after a challenge, had to be treated by medical staff and he was finally taken back to the dressing room on a golf buggy. Head coach Gerardo Seoane sounded the all clear. The 16-year-old Spaniard just suffered a knock. "There was nothing alarming," said the Swiss coach.
As one of eleven players worldwide, Werkself striker Patrik Schick has been nominated for the FIFA Puskas Award in 2021. The award goes to the best goal in the calendar year. The Czech Republic international scored a goal from over 45 yards out in the European Championship game against Scotland in the middle of June. The wonderful long-range effort was one of five goals scored by the 25 year-old at the Euros. The Czech Republic went out in the quarter-finals against Denmark (1-2).
The winner of the Puskas Award is chosen by an international panel consisting of a committee of FIFA legends as well as fans across the world registered on FIFA.com. The votes of these two groups are treated equally. The award will presented in series on 17 January 2022. Click HERE to vote. If Schick wins the vote then he will be the successor to a former Leverkusen player: Tottenham's Heung-Min Son, at Bayer 04 from 2013 to 2015, scored the best goal a year ago.
A new challenge for Tayfun Korkut: The former Werkself coach has signed a contract to the end of the season at Hertha Berlin. The Stuttgart-born coach joined Bayer 04 in March 2017 and he was able to ensure the unsettled team did not get relegated. We wish the 47-year-old much success for the new mission in the capital.
The Bayer 04 women’s team secured a win in the friendly during the international break. Without a total of eight international players, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team defeated Bundesliga 2 side Borussia Mönchengladbach 3–1 at the Kurtekotten Training Centre, thanks to goals from Lobke Loonen (1’, penalty), Caroline Kehrer (41') and Valentina Mädl (66').
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Exciting experiences and exclusive insights into the Werkself and the BayArena awaited the young footballers from the BA04 Football Academy Guangzhou in China during their visit to the Rhineland this week. As well as taking part in a joint training session with the Bayer 04 Football Academy, the youngsters marvelled at the Bundesliga club’s stadium during a guided tour. The highlight of the visit was a private press conference with former Bayer 04 striker Stefan Kießling, during which he shared tips from his own career with the young players. On Saturday afternoon, 10 October, the group will round off their visit by supporting the Werkself in the away match in Mainz.
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During the first international break of the 2026/27 season, set to last just under three weeks, nine Bayer 04 first-team players are in action with their respective national teams. Read on for updates on matches featuring Werkself players…
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Fun, games and promising talent: At the fourth Bayer 04 Junior Girls’ Talent Day at the Kurtekotten training centre, 90 football-mad girls had the chance to put themselves forward for the Werkself youth teams. During a 90-minute training session, children born between 2011 and 2019 had the chance to demonstrate their skills.
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