
Florian Wirtz on…
…the healing process: Me and my knee are doing very well. The rehab training is going as planned. Therefore I'm absolutely confident at this point and I will continue my programme.
…on support on the way to his comeback: I've had great support from the start from all sides from my family as well as the club and my friends. And the doctor who operated on me was very confident in his discussions with me. That feedback motivated me to start rehab a few days after the injury. It's gone great since then including in cooperation with the medical team at the club. I'm in exactly the right hands here.
…rehab work on the training camp: Of course, it's not always easy doing the same exercises in the same place for months on end. Therefore, I'm really enjoying the time here in Austria. I'm fully involved in the day-to-day activity and close to my teammates. I'm training right next to them so I can see what’s happening in training.

…his programme for the coming weeks and months: The first thing now is to gradually increase the intensity and workload on the pitch. We're taking it step-by-step.
…the reasons for extending his contract to 2027: I just feel really good here. I wanted to send a message to the club and the team. Patrik Schick has also extended to 2027, Adam Hlozek has signed a deal to 2027. We've got a good team and we want to build something here.
…communication with Germany coach Hansi Flick: We are in close contact and we have a very good relationship with each other. For example, he invited me to the international in Mönchengladbach (5-2 against Italy, ed.). I spoke to a lot of the other international players there and they gave me great support.
…the World Cup in Qatar: I'm very young and have lots of years ahead of me. You can't see into the future. And I don't want to do that. I just want to use every day and work hard to get back on the pitch fit and well.

Bayer 04 have comfortably reached the DFB Pokal second round thanks to a 4–0 victory away to Liga 3 side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Patrik Schick put the Werkself ahead in the first 45 in the first competitive match under head coach Carles Martínez with debuts for new signings Miguel Gutiérrez, Afonso Moreira and Facundo Medina. After the break, Lucas Vázquez (47'), Nathan Tella (69') and Christian Kofane (79') also found the back of the net.
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Today brings the first match of the season for the Werkself. Bayer 04 kick off the 2026/27 campaign today, Saturday 22 August, at 13:00 CEST with a first-round DFB Pokal tie away to third-tier side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. The 3,700 travelling fans can not only look forward to what will hopefully be a successful start to the season, but also now organise their journeys to Black and Reds games even more easily via the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Meanwhile, following two defeats at the start of the league season, SV Wehen are hoping to spring a surprise in the DFB Pokal tie. Today’s matchday news.
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Carolin Simon is the new captain of the Bayer 04 women’s team. The full-back, who joined from Bayern Munich in the summer, will take over the captain’s armband for the 2026/27 season. Simon returned to Leverkusen in the summer after ten years away. The 33-year-old succeeds goalkeeper Friederike Repohl, who retired at the end of last season.
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With the 2026/27 season set to kick off with a DFB Pokal tie away to SV Wehen Wiesbaden (Saturday, 22 August, 13:00 CEST), the squad numbers for two Werkself players have now been confirmed. New signing Afonso Moreira will wear the number 9, which he has already worn in pre-season friendlies. Lucas Vázquez is switching from number 21 to number 17 – the number he wore successfully at Real Madrid for many years.
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Bayer 04 start the 2026/27 season away to third-division side SV Wehen Wiesbaden. Ahead of the DFB Pokal tie on Saturday 22 August (kick-off: 13:00 CEST), head coach Carles Martínez spoke at the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. The topics: anticipation, passion, the fans’ support – and the captaincy for the new season.
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