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11.07.2016Bayer 04

Performance tests done – Pre-season starts

The Werkself are back in town! The BayArena staged the start of the official pre-season programme on Monday at full speed ahead: The performance tests were on the agenda.
© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

From eight in the morning the Werkstatt was the scene of the action. The roll call included new signings Kevin Volland and Sam Schreck plus returnees Levin Öztunali, Joel Pohjanpalo, Danny da Costa and Niklas Lomb.

For the new and old boys there was the usual array of checks including spiroergometry, stamina tests, sight and balance tests plus other orthopaedic and clinical examinations to establish the basis for the start of outdoor training on Tuesday at ten a.m.

Happy Öztunali

“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” said a perspiring André Ramalho as he stepped off the treadmill at the Werkstatt. His group included Levin Öztunali who returns to the BayArena in determined mood after a loan spell at Werder Bremen. “I’m really happy to be back and I can hardly wait for the new season to kick off,” said the 20-year-old. His mate Julian Brandt was up later and Karim Bellarabi was also on time on Monday. Both were in the provisional Germany squad for Euro 2016 in France but failed to make the final cut.

Bernd Leno and Jonathan Tah were in France and started a well deserved break on Thursday after the semi-final exit. Along with the other Euros participants Hakan Calhanoglu, Admir Mehmedi, Tin Jedvaj, Julian Baumgartlinger and Ramazan Özcan plus Copa America participants Chicharito and Charles Aranguiz they will return to the Werkself over the coming weeks.

Tuesday: First public session

Following the performance tests head coach Roger Schmidt has organised the first training sessions for his players on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at 10.00 and 16.00 CET each day. All the training sessions are open this week. There will be one session on Friday ahead of a friendly in the evening at 19.00 CET at SC Verl as part of the training camp in Marienfeld from 15 to 17 July.

© Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fussball GmbH

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