On training ground number one at the BayArena, Alonso greeted the Werkself squad plus eight outfield players and three goalkeepers from the youth teams. The Spanish head coach had to manage without the players recently away on international duty in Amine Adli, Sardar Azmoun, Adam Hlozek, Lukas Hradecky, Exequiel Palacios, Patrick Pentz, Edmond Tapsoba and Florian Wirtz as well as the two new signings Jonas Hofmann and Granit Xhaka.
"Jonas and Granit have a huge amount of experience and are important components we need for our team," said sporting managing director Simon Rolfes in response to a question after training about the two recently signed midfielders.
The injured players Patrik Schick, Robert Andrich, Piero Hincapie and goalkeeper Niklas Lomb also missed the opening session (see Werkself injury update). Odilon Kossounou, who missed the run-in at the end of last season with a thigh injury, did return for the start of preseason to complete parts of full training.
The action on the pitch started at 10.00 CEST. The 90-minute session started with a warm-up routine followed by passing practice. Several hundred fans came, including the children at the Bayer 04 Soccer School, to watch the Leverkusen players at their first session of the new season. The highlight came after training session: selfies and group photos with the players plus autographs on shirts, rucksacks, trousers and elsewhere.
Anybody attending tomorrow's open training session on Wednesday 12 July has the opportunity to secure the new Bayer 04 home shirt for the coming season. This is available from 10.00 CEST from the fan shop at the BayArena and following training Bayer 04 fans can have their new shirts signed by Werkself players.
The last home game of the season for the Bayer 04 Women against RB Leipzig on Saturday (12:00 CEST) will be a special experience for fans. As part of the family matchday, Bayer 04 are offering fans a wide-ranging programme of events in and around the Ulrich Haberland Stadium similar to the game against Werder Bremen. This will include three special prizes for supporters to win.
Show moreBayer 04 claimed a comfortable 2-0 win against Augsburg in their penultimate home game of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Patrik Schick and Emiliano Buendia got the goals in the first half.
Show moreBayer 04 host Augsburg at the BayArena this Saturday for Matchday 31 of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Here’s all you need to know ahead of the game against the 10th-placed Bavarians, including the ‘Finally Red’ fan campaign.
Show moreThe first of the Werkself’s remaining 04 fixtures of this season comes on Saturday at home to Augsburg (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Ahead of the Matchday 31 encounter, head coach Xabi Alonso reflected on previous weeks, spoke about goals for the remainder of the campaign and also Jonathan Tah.
Show moreAugsburg have enjoyed an excellent run of form this year and come to the BayArena on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST) full of confidence as they take on the Werkself. Jess Thorup’s team boast one of the meanest defences in the Bundesliga and harbour real hope of securing European qualification this season. Here’s all you need to know about our next opponents.
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