As usual on double matchdays under Peter Bosz, the head coach will field two different teams tomorrow – that means all the Werkself players will get to play. The probable formations were evident in today’s training session. After the warm-up, the outfield players were split up and they started with a five-a-side game. Then the two keepers Lukas Hradecky and Ramazan ‘Rambo’ Özcan were introduced and it then moved on to eleven-a-side. The head coach on the touchline demanded “good passes” and “passing accuracy” – and he wants to see that tomorrow on the double matchday that will be broadcast live on bayer04.de, Facebook and YouTube.
Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes has clear expectations of tomorrow’s friendlies: “In terms of performance and workload, I expect us to play well tomorrow. It’s important for us to be ready for the Bundesliga restart.” He has been impressed by the training camp in La Manga so far. “The players are very focused and committed. There’s a good spirit in the squad,” he said in an exclusive interview with Bayer 04 TV.
Reinforcements have arrived today from Leverkusen for the games against Utrecht and St. Gallen. The two U19 youngsters Fabian Rüth and Leon Gaedicke flew out to Spain. The two completed individual training sessions. They can hope to get time on the pitch with the senior players tomorrow but will start on the bench.
To help communication on and off the pitch, the players from abroad regularly have German lessons with Carlos Sobarzo, head of integration for the Bayer 04 first team, as was the case this morning. While new signing Exequiel Palacios is starting with the basics, it’s all running smoothly for Moussa Diaby. “He’s making good progress,” reported Sobarzo, who used to have a language school. The lessons cover football vocabulary plus words and sentences useful for conversation on a daily basis.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have agreed Kerim Alajbegovic’s transfer to Italian record champions Juventus. The club brought the 18-year-old attacking player back to Leverkusen this summer via a buy-back option, following a season at Red Bull Salzburg. Until his move to Austria, the Bosnia international had been playing for Bayer 04’s Under-19s.
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With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of the 3-0 victory in the friendly match against Rot-Weiss Essen...
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen will have to manage without Kennet Eichhorn for the time being. Following specialist medical examinations, the new signing from Berlin has been diagnosed with a metabolic disorder requiring treatment. This was preceded by excessive physical strain and weight loss, partly as a result of a gastrointestinal condition.
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A successful fourth preseason friendly ahead of the start of the training camp: The Werkself secured a 3-0 victory over Rot-Weiss Essen at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The goals in what was a commanding and dominant performance by Leverkusen from the outset were scored by Ibrahim Maza (8'), Patrik Schick from the penalty spot (23’) and, in the second half, Montrell Culbreath with a header (79’). The team set off for their training camp in Blankenhain in the Weimarer Land region after the game.
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