The Dutchman expressed great praise for the performances of recent weeks at the pre-match press conference on Friday. With the 4-0 derby win at FC Köln it was again clear that "all the players who didn't play much at the start of the season are now fit and ready to play. You have to pay them a compliment. When they come into the side they are fully committed and produce good performances," said the 56-year-old.
For the game against FC Bayern, Bosz will be missing long-term absentees through injury Paulinho, Exequiel Palacios and Santiago Arias plus Charles Aránguiz and Sven Bender as well as his brother Lars Bender. The head coach on his defensive stalwart: "Lars did not train on Thursday. I'm not assuming he will be available."
Bosz is unwilling think too much about possible favourites in the Bundesliga top-of-the-table clash. Moreover, he is looking forward to the encounter with FC Bayern: "A big match like this does not give me any stress. As a player you want to be playing in big matches as that gives you loads of energy. Tomorrow's game will be like that." Bayern's star striker Robert Lewandowski will be playing his part. The Pole was named world player of the year on Thursday night. "He has produced very consistent performances at a high level over a long period of time. He deserves the title," said Bosz.
Although Bayern Munich have one point less than the Werkself, according to the Dutchman the coming opponents are "obviously a top team. But we're on a run and are playing good football. The confidence is there. Our aim is, as in every other match, to bring our style of play onto the pitch."
Match information:
Broadcasters: Sky and Werks11 Radio
Referee: The match officials will be announced on the day of the game
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, is Bayer 04’s record appearance holder in the Bundesliga with 401 games, and is the only Leverkusen 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 encyclopaedia takes Werkself fans on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month with our series ‘Rudi recounts…’.
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