Head coach Roger Schmidt and his players can look forward to the best possible conditions and plenty of work in Austria. “We’ll work on all aspects of our game at the training camp and that includes the physical and tactical areas. And we know we’ve got the ideal conditions we need,” confirmed Schmidt, “I’m looking forward to the stay and working with our players.” Kevin Volland is also positive ahead of the hard work in Salzburger Land. “It’s particularly important for me as a new signing at the training camp to get to know the team better,” said the striker signed from Hoffenheim who has already scored five times in the pre-season.
The Werkself will have to make do without Lars Bender and Julian Brandt in Zell am See-Kaprun as the duo are at the Olympics in Rio with the Germany squad. Danny da Costa is also absent after undergoing an operation in Krefeld on Thursday to remove a metal pin inserted to provide support after he broke his shin in October 2014. Stefan Kießling, with ongoing hip problems, and Julian Baumgartlinger (groin) will start with individual training sessions in Zell am See. The youngsters Sam Schreck, Atakan Akkaynak and Kai Havertz are also on the tour. The Germany players at Euro 2016, Bernd Leno and Jonathan Tah, are set join the group in the next few days.
Two friendlies
In addition to the numerous training sessions, the Werkself have two friendlies arranged in Austria: The first is against South-West Regional League Teutonia Watzenborn-Steinberg on Saturday followed by a game on the penultimate day of the training camp against Fiorentina on Thursday 4 August. The matches at the Alois Latini Stadium in Zell am See kick off at 18.00 CET.
Bayer 04 have ended Artem Stepanov’s loan deal at Nürnberg and agreed a new loan to Utrecht in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian striker did not play as much as hoped for at the Bundesliga 2 club and will now continue his development in the Eredivisie for the rest of 2025/26.
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Following on from the emotional last-minute win at Union Berlin, the Bayer 04 Women now face a promoted team: On Saturday, 31 January (12:00 CET), coach Roberto Pätzold's team welcome FC Nürnberg to the Ulrich Haberland Stadium for their first home game of the new year. In their second season in the Bundesliga, the Franconians have impressed with 16 points from the first 15 games.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with Germany U19 international Montrell Culbreath. The attacking midfielder and right winger has penned a deal with the Bundesliga club that runs to 30 June 2030. Culbreath has played for the Werkself as a youth player since 2023. Last December, he scored his first Bundesliga goal for the Leverkusen first team in the Bayer 04 3-1 away win at RB Leipzig.
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The Werkself's 3-0 victory over Villarreal in the UEFA Champions League certainly left many happy faces: Malik Tillman was delighted with his brace, Robert Andrich with the clean sheet and coach Kasper Hjulmand with the "manner" of this significant home win. With an overwhelming superiority and over 75 per cent possession at times, Bayer 04 deserved their place in the UCL play-off round. They will face a familiar foe in February. The Werkself review.
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