Just before 10:30 this morning: Gerardo Seoane plus his two assistant coaches Patrick Schnarwiler and Alberto Encinas, were the first on the training pitch one. Before they went on to the pitch, the trio had a chat with the youngest of the Bayer 04 supporters present. After the session, Seoane talked about fans returning to the training ground: "It's particularly great for the children to be able to be so close the players, have their photos taken with them and be able to get their autographs. We are very happy that the fans came to see us."
The Werkself players were led out onto the pitch fifteen minutes later by Kerem Demirbay and Timothy Fosu-Mensah. The duo were fully fit at the first session after recovering from injuries in the closing stages of last season and they were joined by Jeremie Frimpong and Karim Bellarabi.
The 75-minute session began with different warm-up drills and then the focus was primarily on working with the ball. A relaxed but concentrated start for the Werkself with youngsters Zidan Sertdemir and Iker Bravo joined by the youth players Ayman Aourir, Christian Schwieren, Noah Pesch, Ingyom Jung, Jardell Kanga plus goalkeeper Maximilian Neutgens. Also involved were the players returning from loan in Ayman Azhil (RKC Waalwijk/Netherlands) and Mitchell Weiser (Werder Bremen) plus U19 new signing Madi Monamay, who joined Leverkusen a few days ago from KRC Genk.
Nadiem Amiri, who played for the Italian club CFC Genoa on loan in the second half of last season, trained in the facilities at the BayArena. Paulinho has been ill recently but, according to Seoane on Monday, " he should be back on the plane as soon as possible." In addition, Charles Aránguiz had problems with his return flight from South America and the Chile international is expected to return to Leverkusen in the middle of the week.
As with the first training session of the summer, the other Werkself sessions this week are open to the fans. Up to Saturday, Seoane will be working with Andrich and Co. on the training ground at the BayArena every day at 10.30 CEST with two other sessions planned for 15.00 CEST on Tuesday and Thursday. Wednesday’s training will be held inside the BayArena on Wednesday rather than on the training ground.
Please note: Changes can be made at short notice and Bayer 04 will inform fans of any such changes via the club channels.
It will be a historic and very special moment in front of a full house at the BayArena when the Werkself are presented with the first Meisterschale in the club’s history after the final whistle on the last Bundesliga matchday of the season against FC Augsburg. The fixture is on Saturday, 18 May (kick-off: 15.30 CEST/live on Sky and on Werkself Radio). Ahead of the clash with tenth-placed FCA, head coach Xabi Alonso talked about the trophy presentation as well as the possibility of being the first team to go a whole season unbeaten in the Bundesliga.
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In the final match of the season for Bayer 04 on Saturday 18 May (kick-off: 15.30 CEST), FC Augsburg still have something to play for despite a recent run of defeats. FCA could secure a place in European competition next term with a shock victory away to the champions of Germany and with help from elsewhere. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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Bayer 04’s Alejandro Grimaldo has been voted the Bundesliga’s Player of the Month for April 2024. It’s the 28-year-old’s first title of this season, having been nominated six times previously during his maiden campaign in Germany.
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Werkself player Florian Wirtz has been called up to the Germany squad for Euro 2024. For the 21-year-old midfielder with the champions of Germany, it will be the first time he has appeared in a major international tournament.
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