In a media interview, the 39-year-old talked to the press representatives about the strengths of the newly formed coaching staff and highlighted the crucial factors in the forthcoming matches. Hannes Wolf on…
…work with the Werkself to date: ‘First impressions’ isn’t really the right term as I’ve known lots of the lads for a very long time. You automatically follow the different players when you’ve lived in Germany for most of the time and have worked in football. It’s a great team with great players. The team makes an open and positive impression on me in their day-to-day work.
…his playing philosophy: For the next period I will approach the whole thing very pragmatical and look explicitly at what helps the team. What is the best formation? Which position suits which player? Who can you bring on? In the next few weeks it is primarily about winning games. Of course, we won’t look to be negative but instead we want to play football and find the answers on the pitch. I’ve been brought up with attacking football and that’s how I developed as a coach. It’s not about my playing philosophy but doing the best for the term and the club.
…the new coaching staff: It’s great that Peter Hermann is here. He has an incredible wealth of experience. The most valuable thing about him is that he is an absolute expert in training sessions. He also defines himself by that. He has the authority to carry out training and to get the best out of each individual player. It’s great fun working with him. He is a great asset. I then brought in Miguel Moreira. When you look at the squad and we have somebody in our ranks like Miguel who can speak Spanish, Portuguese, French, English and German and is a coach as well, and has been in the game for many years, then we have a very good set-up here.
…the Bender twins: It’s something very special for me to be working with Sven and Lars in their last few weeks of their playing careers. I joined BVB with Sven in 2009. That means we’ve known each other for a very long time. I have closely followed his whole career from a young player to today. Sven’s strengths are positioning, consistency, determination and strategy – the same applies to Lars. When you look at this season then there are obviously characters who can give you security and structure on the pitch. It would therefore be great if Lars can come back before the end of the season. He’s working very hard on his comeback. I’ve already spoken to the two of them and they told me: “You definitely don’t have to leave us out. We’ll make it to the end.” – that’s how those two are. Of course, I didn’t expect anything else from the Bender twins. Every successful team needs players like that.
…the longer build-up to the Monday game: We’ve worked very well and intensively this week. We will have the day off on Thursday as the build-up to the away game against Hoffenheim would be too long otherwise. We will have another opportunity to train very intensively on Friday without having the game at the weekend at the back of our minds. It will be valuable training time for the internationals who were only with us for a few days before the Schalke game (2-1, ed.).
They had their hands full in the VAR centre in Cologne: eight goals were scored at the MEWA Arena on Saturday afternoon, but only four of them were allowed in the end as the Werkself and 1. FSV Mainz 05 closed the season with a 2-2 draw. It means Bayer 04 end the 2024/25 campaign as runners-up with 69 points, representing the fourth-best season in the club's history. What's more, the Werkself are now unbeaten away from home in two whole Bundesliga seasons, with their last away defeat coming exactly two years ago on Matchday 34 of the 2022/23 season at VfL Bochum. The Black-and-Reds can continue the record run next season - albeit without Alonso and Tah. Read what else the eventful final game for the head coach and the defensive leader had to offer in the Werkself Review.
Show moreWerkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at Mainz 05 on the 34th matchday of the Bundesliga 2024/25...
Show moreBayer 04’s final game of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season saw VAR drama and produced a new record for away results with a 2-2 draw in Mainz. The hosts had several goals ruled out before Paul Nebel put them ahead. Patrik Schick’s brace then turned things around in the second half before Jonathan Burkardt’s penalty levelled the game again. It means Leverkusen have now gone 34 away games without defeat in the Bundesliga, which no team has ever done before.
Show moreThe Werkself bring down the curtain on their 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign with a game away at Mainz on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 meeting at the MEWA Arena.
Show moreXabi Alonso is leaving Leverkusen at the end of the season. In his final interview as Werkself coach, he talks about his two-and-a-half years at the helm, the greatest moments of his historic tenure and his appreciation of the connection with the fans and players throughout their remarkable progress together.
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