Lukas, how important was the victory coming from behind at Freiburg for building confidence?
A win like that always does you good. Even though we were lucky that the referee withdrew the red card against Sven Bender. That situation was a wake-up call for us. We showed courage, came back and deservedly won in the end. That also shows how we have developed as a team. We’ve lost games like that in the past.
You are unbeaten in the Bundesliga. Is that also a sign of defensive stability?
Definitely not just because the results. But we have conceded very few shots on goal from opponents. You can see that we’ve played together for a long time. Our overall defensive work is functioning much better than at the start of last season. We communicate with each other better and everybody knows what he has to do.
To what extent do you feel the team has recovered after the departures in the summer?
The departures have less to do with it. I’d like to still have Kai (Havertz, ed.) and Kevin (Volland, ed.) in our team. But the fact is others have to do more now. Also take on more responsibility. They’re getting their chance and they know how to use it. And that also helps the team to develop. We are on the right track but haven’t reached our target yet. Quite the opposite.
The current top five in the table is exactly the same as the top five last season. Do you think it will stay like that?
If it was up to me, gladly. Particularly if we are in the top four at the end. (He laughs) But you can’t afford to write off teams like Hoffenheim, Wolfsburg and, above all, Frankfurt. It’s all very tight.
Gladbach have a lot of quality and they were impressive in defence in the 1-0 win against Leipzig. What do you have to look out for against Borussia?
They have a lot of pace in the team and very good finishers in Thuram, Plea, Stindl and Co. It will be a big challenge for us. A real test for our team. Both in defence as well as in attack… But they will think the same about us.
Lucas Alario has scored five times in the last three Bundesliga matches. What’s your assessment of his development?
Lucas knows exactly where the goal is. A genuine fox in the box. And he has an outstanding goalscoring instinct. Not to forget: Now through good performances and his goals he has developed confidence and the team bring him into the game more. It’s very difficult to defend against him. I’m very happy he’s playing for us. (He laughs)
The whole of the BayArena Aktuell for the home game against Borussia Mönchengladbach is available HERE. The digital Werkself matchday magazine includes: Interesting facts on #B04BMG, news from other sections of Bayer 04 and a look at the draw for the second round of the DFB Cup, which is happening at the same time as the clash with the ‘Foals’. Log on and get in the mood for the big game!
Kicking off the new season with a fresh look: Bayer 04, in collaboration with sportswear manufacturer New Balance, has unveiled the official kit for Leverkusen’s e-Sports players for the coming season. The jersey is now available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.
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Paulo Sergio and Bayer 04 have enjoyed close ties since the Werkself training camp in his native Brazil last summer. The club legend is in charge of the Bayer 04 Soccer Academy, which opened in the summer of 2025, and he has also been at this year’s training camp in the Weimarer Land. As well as interacting with the many fans who travelled to the camp, the 1994 World Cup winner used the time to plan the next steps for the Academy together with club officials. In an interview with bayer04.de, Sergio spoke about the project’s future development, the upcoming visit by young Academy players to Leverkusen, and plans for the coming months in Germany and Brazil.
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A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day five (Thursday 6 August) is as follows: The squad have the final open session of the training camp in the morning. After lunch, there will be a team event.
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A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day four (Wednesday 5 August) is all about training. The day begins with a gruelling open training session – new signing Miguel Gutiérrez also takes part. A second session follows in the afternoon, this time behind closed doors.
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At the training camp in the Weimarer Land region, Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez and his long-standing assistant Pol García talk about their first few weeks with the Werkself, their expectations of their own work, the coaching staff and the squad, as well as the style of football they want the team to play. They emphasise the importance of a winning mentality within the team, comment on cultural and personal differences in the world of football, and outline their goals for the coming season...
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