Yesterday, Sunday 14 June, the Spaniard travelled from his home country to Leverkusen. He was accompanied by his future assistant coach and compatriot, Pol García, who Martínez worked with for the past three years at French top-flight side FC Toulouse.
Together with the managing director sport Simon Rolfes, director of professional teams Thomas Eichin, football director Kim Falkenberg and other members of the coaching team and staff, head coach Martínez discussed the upcoming tasks and issues at the BayArena. Before those involved make the most of their time off until training starts in July to recharge their batteries, the foundations for the new season have been laid. And one thing was particularly evident: anticipation of working together in the coming season.
The players are due to return to Leverkusen in mid-July for the start of pre-season training. Further details, including the exact date, to follow. The Werkself will play their first friendly of the summer on Saturday 18 July (kick-off: 15:00 CEST) against Oberliga side Sportfreunde Baumberg in neighbouring Monheim am Rhein.
The Werkself have reached at least the semi-finals of the DFB Pokal in each of the last three years. The Black-and-Reds would like to make it to the final four of the competition again this season, but to do that they'll need to overcome 1. FC Nürnberg in round two, who travel to the BayArena with momentum following a successful league campaign so far. However, Bayer have a 100 percent record at home in all competitions this season - and have also won six of their last seven home matches in the Pokal. The Matchday News.
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Back at home in the second round of the 2026/27 DFB Pokal, Bayer 04 host FC Nürnberg at the BayArena. The match against the current second-placed side in Bundesliga 2 is on Wednesday 28 October at 20:45 CET. Ahead of the game, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about his anticipation of the clash in front of a home crowd. The Spaniard also commented on a number of personnel matters, including Ibrahim Maza and Montrell Culbreath, plus the visitors’ coach, Miroslav Klose.
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Now in their third season under head coach Miroslav Klose, FC Nürnberg are among the promotion contenders in Bundesliga 2. On Wednesday 28 October (kick-off: 20:45 CET), the team currently second in the table are away to Bayer 04 in the second round of the DFB Pokal. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Werkself player Ibrahim Maza has been named in the top ten in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category for 2026. The 20-year-old was at the London Palladium on Monday evening for the 2026 Ballon d’Or awards ceremony. Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, also attended the ceremony. Lamine Yamal of Barcelona was named the winner in the ‘Men’s Young Talent of the Year’ category.
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Bayer 04 will have to manage without forward Moussa Diaby for their upcoming matches. The 27-year-old Frenchman sustained a thigh injury in the 3-0 defeat against TSG Hoffenheim yesterday afternoon, Sunday 25 October. Diaby is expected to be available again after the international break in November.
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