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 round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day four (Wednesday 5 August) is all about training. The day begins with a gruelling open training session – new signing Miguel Gutiérrez also takes part. A second session follows in the afternoon, this time behind closed doors.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed Spanish left-back Miguel Gutiérrez from Napoli. The 25-year-old has signed a contract with the club to 30 June 2031. Gutiérrez came through the youth ranks at Real Madrid; he moved to Italy a year ago from Girona, and he played a key role for Napoli with 36 appearances. The big Italian club finished last season as runners-up in Serie A.
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New signing Miguel Gutiérrez arrives in Leverkusen having won the Champions League, the Spanish league title and an Olympic gold medal. However, the 25-year-old Spaniard, signed from Napoli, is looking to the future – he wants to write the next chapter of success with the Werkself. Bayer04.de takes a closer look at the skilful, attack-minded left-back, who will wear the number 3 jersey.
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The Werkself's training camp in Weimarer Land all in one place: in our daily blog you'll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day three (Tuesday 4 August) begins with a thorough open session on the pitch. After lunch, some players have media engagements at the team hotel, and then the team come together for a barbecue in the evening.
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