Granit Xhaka on...
...his move to Leverkusen: I had very good talks with Simon Rolfes (sporting managing director, ed.) and also with Xabi. The ideas and philosophy of the club persuaded me. It was a straightforward decision to join Leverkusen. I really feel at home here although it's only my second day. The lads are brilliant and I've had a great reception.
…his targets for the coming season: Now I'm going to try to apply the experience, which I gained in the last few years in London (at Arsenal, ed.), here and bring this young team with me. It's a challenge but I see loads of potential here. The players are in great shape and there’s a very good team spirit.
...his new head coach: There's ten years difference but we've had a connection for a long while through our common experience in the Bundesliga. We faced each other as opponents back then, he was playing for Bayern Munich and I was at Gladbach (Borussia Mönchengladbach, ed.).That was almost the first thing we talked about. Bayern always tore us apart, they had a great team back then. Xabi is a role model for everybody – players and coaches. And his first call to me was something special. I'm happy I can now be part of this team.
The Werkself conceded a goal at home for the first time since the beginning of January 67 minutes into the game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Jarell Quansah levelled late on for the final score of 1-1 to secure a point and avoid a first home defeat in six games. Bayer 04 were very critical of their performance after the game. The Werkself review.
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Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').
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