The 90-minute training session for the Werkself squad started punctually at 10.30 CEST. Amongst the players present was Granit Xhaka, who joined Leverkusen from Premier League runners-up Arsenal at the start of July, and now on the training ground with his new teammates for the first time.
The first training session for the 30-year-old Switzerland international was again watched by a large number of Bayer 04 fans. They saw several players from the youth teams who completed stretching and coordination drills as well as finishing practice together with Xhaka and Co.
There was a small surprise towards the end of the training session: Robert Andrich, who is currently completing rehab at the Werkstatt in the BayArena, joined his teammates as a spectator in the final minutes of training.
Xhaka, who completed an individual running session with fitness coach Ismael Camenforte Lopez
after the session, was one of the last to leave the pitch – and, of course, he was very much in demand with the fans for photos and autographs.
Many of the supporters, as usual, had shorts, rucksacks and shirts – including the new Werkself home shirt for the 2023/24 season – signed. The new home shirt went on sale this week. If you want to get the new shirt: HERE is the online shop.
After Xhaka has now started full training and got to know the squad, the Switzerland international will face his first press conference since his move to Leverkusen on Friday 14 July when he will talk about his first impressions at Bayer 04. The statements of the 30-year-old midfielder will be available on the Bayer 04 club channels afterwards.
Season tickets for the Werkself home matches in the new Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga season are now on general sale. The season ticket is valid for all 13 matches at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The first home match will be played between 28 and 31 August against the runners-up, VfL Wolfsburg, followed by the clash with the German champions, Bayern Munich, between 11 and 14 September.
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A new team, a new environment, a new challenge—and yet one thing remains the same for Afonso Moreira: his attitude. Total dedication, discipline, and the drive to improve every day have defined the Portuguese player since his early days at Sporting CP. “Even back then, I realized I had to work hard to achieve my goals,” said the 21-year-old. His parents also instilled those values in him from a young age. Values that have driven him ever since, accompanied him to France when he signed for Lyon, and now also form the foundation for his new chapter at Bayer 04. At a media session, the lightning-fast winger spoke about his values, as well as his new teammates, the new coach, and his targets at the club.
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Former Bundesliga and Germany keeper Manfred Manglitz, who was promoted to the Oberliga West with Bayer 04 in 1962, passed away on Monday at the age of 86.
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Justine Brandau and Lobke Loonen joined the Bayer 04 Women’s squad in quick succession this summer. The two Dutch players have been friends since their youth days, and are now playing for the same club for the first time. In an interview at the training camp in Rieden, Brandau and Loonen talk, amongst other things, about their experiences as opponents in the Vrouwen Eredivisie, the dynamic within their new team and their first few weeks in Leverkusen.
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