The warm-up started with a game of catch where the quarry can save themselves by hitching a piggyback from another Werkself pro; Peter Bosz and his fellow coaches then split the squad up into smaller groups for rondos. Attention then turned to detailed work: The dribbling skills of the pros were in demand on a slalom course. Finally, the intensity of the session was upped even more with shooting practice and a practice match.
Sven Bender, Karim Bellarabi and Daley Sinkgraven returned to full training today after all three worked on their own in the Monday session. Lars Bender was today on a neighbouring pitch. The skipper completed a separate fitness session without the ball – as did Tin Jedvaj due to slight back problems, albeit he was at the BayArena. The Croat is expected to return to full training on Thursday.
The Werkself have 04 days before the first competitive game of the season in Aachen. "It won't be easy. Our opponents have already played several games and are up and running. If we want to win then we have to deliver 100 per cent," said Sven Bender, putting aside the results of the recent friendlies; "They were poor results – there’s no question about that. But it counts from now on! We've had six weeks of pre-season and that should be enough!"
Kevin Volland believes he and his team-mates are well prepared for the challenge in Aachen: "We've made further progress over the last two weeks. Our fitness is better and the freshness is there – we’ll be in good shape by the time of the cup game," said the confident 27-year-old. "We have to communicate a bit better on the pitch and help each other out. But we are all very focused and we definitely want to get off to a good start."
The Werkself had an appointment in the press conference room at the BayArena after lunch: Referee Dr Robert Kampka delivered a lecture. The referee introduced the rule changes for the 2019/20 season. Centre stage was the modification to the handball rule.
UEFA also paid a visit. The European body sent representatives to the BayArena ahead of the forthcoming Champions League matches to take a closer look at the facilities, the technical infrastructure as well as the areas of hospitality and ticketing to ensure the matchdays run without any problems. There was very positive feedback: The BayArena and Bayer 04 are completely prepared for the Champions League.
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
Show moreTo all Bayer 04 fans: The Fanwelt will be closed all day next Monday 30 June. This is due to preparations for the change of kit supplier from Castore to New Balance on Tuesday 1 July.
Show moreThe Norway U23 international Julie Jorde has completed the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Brøndby IF. The twelve-time champions of Denmark have signed the midfielder on permanent terms after her loan move from the Bundesliga to Denmark in the winter.
Show moreIt is almost two years since Bayer 04 new signing Abdoulaye Faye first stepped foot into the BayArena as a player for the Swedish club BK Häcken in the opening match in the 2023/24 Europa League campaign. A day before his nineteenth birthday, the central defender did not play in the 4-0 win for the Werkself but it was "an incredible night" for him on 21 September 2023 as he explained in his first interview on bayer04.de. "I watched the players and saw the fans. I liked it." It was also the first European night early on in his career. He only joined the then champions of Sweden in the cold north of Europe from his home in Senegal a few weeks before that special moment. Bayer04.de profiles our new defender.
Show moreWelcome, Abdoulaye Faye. The 20-year-old Senegalese central defender joins Leverkusen from top-flight Swedish club BK Häcken. In his first interview he talks about his move to Bayer 04 and his targets with the Werkself.
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