Back
18.03.2020Bayer 04

Rolfes: What motivates the players most

The news around the issue of coronavirus changes almost every hour. Simon Rolfes, Bayer 04 sporting director, provides an insight into the current situation at the Werkself with head coach Peter Bosz and his team today (Wednesday) setting out individual training regimes for use at home on this Wednesday morning. Simon Rolfes on…
crop_20200201_schueler_rolfes_091.jpg

…the situation at the Werkself: The situation isn’t easy for anybody involved. This morning we gave the players the latest information and advice of how to act in the next few weeks.

…the arrangements made: Everybody's health comes first. That's why there have been political measures relating to how we behave. We all have to adhere to that. And our medical director Dr Dittmar made that clear to the squad again today.

…the concerns of the first team players: The biggest worry is about health and not just of the players themselves but also the welfare of their families. That's what motivates the players most at the moment.

…the individual training regimes: Today, we gave all the players home training plans. Our coaching staff have worked these out in the past two weeks to be ready for this particular scenario. We are confident we will be well prepared in the event the Bundesliga and the other competitions get going again at some point.

…the loss of income from matchdays: At the moment, it's impossible to predict the scale of losses for the clubs. Of course, we have to react if the financial state of Bundesliga clubs are under threat and take appropriate measures at the earliest possible moment. But it's still too early for that at the moment.

…a possible abandonment of the Bundesliga season: I find it very difficult to imagine that scenario at the moment. If the health situation stabilises and the external circumstances allow it then it is in everybody's interest to complete the competitions in as proper a manner as possible. The postponement of the European Championship gives us more room for manoeuvre.

Related News

Manfred Manglitz
Bayer 04 - 16.07.2026

Bayer 04 mourn the loss of Manfred Manglitz

Former Bundesliga and Germany keeper Manfred Manglitz, who was promoted to the Oberliga West with Bayer 04 in 1962, passed away on Monday at the age of 86.

Show more
Niederländisches Duo Brandau und Loonen: „Konkurrenzkampf tut uns sehr gut“
Werkself-TV - 16.07.2026

Dutch duo Brandau and Loonen: ‘Competition is really good for us’

Justine Brandau and Lobke Loonen joined the Bayer 04 Women’s squad in quick succession this summer. The two Dutch players have been friends since their youth days, and are now playing for the same club for the first time. In an interview at the training camp in Rieden, Brandau and Loonen talk, amongst other things, about their experiences as opponents in the Vrouwen Eredivisie, the dynamic within their new team and their first few weeks in Leverkusen.

Show more
Frauen-Bundesliga-Spielplan 2026/27
Women - 16.07.2026

Women’s Bundesliga: Season opener in Leipzig, season finale against Mainz

The Werkself fixture list for the 2026/27 season in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga has been finalised. To kick off the season, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team travel to RB Leipzig between 21 and 24 August. The fixtures were announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Thursday morning. The season will conclude with a home match on 23 May 2027 against newly promoted side Mainz 05.

Show more
Council votes against the planning resolution for the Bayer 04 Campus in Monheim
Bayer 04 - 15.07.2026

Council votes against the planning resolution for the Bayer 04 Campus in Monheim: “We will remain determined”

On Wednesday evening, Monheim City Council voted against a planning resolution for the Bayer 04 Campus on Alfred-Nobel-Straße in Monheim in a secret ballot, with 19 votes in favour, 25 against and one abstention. The legal status of the project therefore remains unchanged.

Show more