While the players in the starting line-up for the victory at BVB began the week on exercise bikes or at a recovery session at the BayArena, a total of 13 Werkself players were back on the pitch on Tuesday morning.
Three Bayer 04 players took important steps on their way back to rejoining the squad: Daley Sinkgraven completed a full session with the team for the first time since his muscle injury. Depending on the how the week progresses for the Dutchman, a return to the squad for the next game against VfB Stuttgart could well be realistic. The Werkself entertain the Swabians in a night match on Saturday 12 February – the kick-off is at 18.30 CET.
Julian Baumgartlinger is also on the way back following his cruciate injury: The Austria international was able to complete a large number of passing drills. Exequiel Palacios was able to make several challenges with the coaching staff seeing how Pala reacts to the workload as head coach Gerardo Seoane explained after the training session.
Edmond Tapsoba will return to the Werkself on Wednesday afternoon: The 23-year-old has been in action with Burkina Faso at the Africa Cup of Nations where he played the full 90 minutes in six games. Head coach Seoane believes the Werkself number 12 will be fully available immediately.
Lukas Hradecky has to remain patient: The captain has not yet tested negative for Covid-19. The goalkeeper is keeping himself fit in his own four walls. It remains to be seen whether our number one will be able to play in goal against Stuttgart.
New signing Sardar Azmoun is currently working on stabilisation and fitness training in close discussion with the medical department following his ligament injury. While the 27-year-old did not have any problems after his first running session, the Iran international complained of pain with different shooting drills.
"With the situation that Patrik Schick and Lucas Alario are both completely fit, we’re in a good position and are able to give Sardar the necessary amount of time," said Seoane who believes the new signing will make his first appearance in a couple of weeks.
The former Werkself player Hakan Çalhanoğlu today celebrates his 28th birthday. The Turkey international played for the Black and Reds from 2014 to 2017 making 115 appearances across all competitions, scoring 28 times and providing 29 assists. The midfielder has been at Inter Milan since the summer of 2021.
Congratulations also go to Renato Augusto – he is now 34. The Brazilian midfielder joined Leverkusen in 2008 from his hometown club Flamengo Rio de Janeiro and he spent four years with the Werkself. He scored 12 goals in 126 games. The midfielder then returned to South America to join his current club Corinthians São Paulo where he is still playing after a spell in China from January 2016 to the summer of 2021.
The birthday list continues: Former Werkself head coach Bruno Labbadia is 55 today. Labbadia took over the position of head coach at Leverkusen for one season after managing second division SpVgg Greuther Fürth. He went on to join Hamburg SV after a season with the Werkself.
Many happy to returns to you too, Uwe Stöver. During his time as a player, Stöver joined Bayer 04 in 1989 from Cronenberger SC. The Wuppertal-born player went on to win the DFB Cup with the Werkself in 1992/1993. Stöver has been the sporting director and vice president at second division Holstein Kiel since 2019.
A simple approach to sport with games, fun and a highlight at the end: Bayer 04 organised a very special training session for 40 participants aged between six and 27 in cooperation with the Football Association of the Middle Rhine (FVM). At the day of action for women and girls with disabilities at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, many of the participants gained their first experience of football.
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On Saturday, 28 March, the lights will go out again at the BayArena from 20:30 pm to 21:30. As in previous years, Bayer 04 once again take part in the WWF Earth Hour campaign under the motto "We're switching off" as the club wants to set a collective example for more climate and environmental protection together with people, cities and companies around the world.
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Less than a year ago, Kerim Alajbegovic moved from the Bayer 04 U19s to Austrian top-flight club FC Red Bull Salzburg. The forward’s development since then has been impressive. In 36 matches, including in the UEFA Europa League, the 18-year-old has scored 14 goals. In the summer, Alajbegovic, now a Bosnia international, will return to Leverkusen - and thus not only achieve the next milestone still early in his career, but also enrich the Werkself squad with his footballing versatility and determination.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with forward Nathan Tella ahead of schedule. The versatile 26-year-old, who can be deployed as a right winger, false nine or left winger, has penned a new contract to 30 June 2031. Tella joined the Werkself from Championship club Southampton in 2023. His previous contract ran to the summer of 2028.
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Nathan Tella has extended his contract with Bayer 04 to 2031. In an interview with Werkself TV, the 26-year-old talks about fulfilling his dreams, his positive outlook on life and his goals for the future. He answers the questions in English - all except the last one, which he addresses directly to the fans...
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