Back
12.05.2020Bundesliga

Hradecky: Tangible excitement

The Bayer 04 first team and staff checked in at the quarantine quarters in Wermelskirchen on Monday night. The Werkself, including the top management, sporting director, coaching and support staff, are staying at the Hotel Große Ledder until Sunday 17 May. After the first night at the conference hotel in Bergisches Land, owned by the Bayer Gastronomie GmbH, goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky shares his impressions – and looks forward to the Bundesliga clash at Werder Bremen on Monday, 18 May (kick-off: 20.30 CET).

Until Sunday’s departure for North Germany, the Werkself are commuting in two coaches between the training ground on Bismarckstraße and the hotel where they eating and being looked after, holding meetings and also spending their leisure time. “In this crisis there are people facing difficult challenges. Complaining and having fun always have their place in a football team. But it’s going well and we’ll easily get through this week,” explained Hradecky in an online media interview after today’s trading session.

League restart at Werder Bremen

The Finn prefers to concentrate on the forthcoming restart in Germany’s top flight. The level in the sessions is already very high in spite of the many weeks without full training sessions. “You can feel everybody’s excitement. We’re in a good position in the table and want to take that momentum into the rest of the season,” said the 30-year-old who highlighted the necessary increased communication on the pitch. “It was an important issue for us before the games were suspended and is not even more significant with the quiet of the stadiums with games played behind closed doors.”

The 1.92 metre giant does not yet know what sort of atmosphere awaits him and his teammates. The away game at Bremen’s Wohninvest Weserstadion will be the first match behind closed doors in Hradecky’s career to date. “Of course, we would prefer to play in front of fans. But, on Monday, it might be a slight advantage for us that Bremen won’t be playing in front of a full house at home,” explained the number one keeper who is hoping for more luck on the pitch for the Black and Reds compared with the game earlier in the season.

 

 

20191026_B04SVW_AY7W5987.jpg
At the end of October last year, the Werkself with goalkeeper Hradecky faced Bremen in front of a sold-out BayArena.

Hradecky set to quiz Frankfurt players

In the 2-2 draw at the end of October in front of a sold-out BayArena, Hradecky had to pick the ball out of his net twice from deflected shots from Milot Rashica (40’) and Davy Klaassen (48’). “That match was probably during our poorest phase of this season,” said the Finn. For the match in Bremen, he is hoping Werder feel “a bit more pressure” given their current position in the table – Bremen are 17th at the moment. Hradecky was however unable to make a prediction of whether favourites or underdogs would have more wins in games behind closed doors.

The Werkself keeper is in positive mood ahead of restarting the season with his team on Monday and rounding off matchday 26: “We will watch everything on TV at the hotel at the weekend. And after the games, I’ll definitely ask my former teammates at Frankfurt how it was so we’re prepared.”

sky_comeback_300x250.jpg

Related News

Montrell Culbreath gegen RB Leipzig
Bayer 04 - 08.07.2026

Golden Boy Top 100 featuring Culbreath and Co.: Bayer 04 with largest contingent in the Bundesliga

The Golden Boy Top 100 traditionally lists Europe’s most promising young players. In the latest update, published to mark the start of the new season, four current Werkself players – alongside loanee Francis Onyeka – feature on the list. This means Bayer 04 have the most players in contention of any Bundesliga club.

Show more
Rafaela Borggräfe
Women - 07.07.2026

Loan extension: Rafaela Borggräfe to stay at Bayer 04

Goalkeeper Rafaela Borggräfe will continue to play for Bayer 04 Leverkusen next season. The loan of the Germany U23 international, who joined from Liverpool in the winter, has been extended by a further year.

Show more
Fernando Carro, Jorginho und Paulo Sergio in Rio de Janeiro
Bayer 04 - 07.07.2026

Bayer 04 provide long-term support for the Bola Pra Frente project in Rio de Janeiro – Jorginho named official club legend

The Bayer 04 delegation, led by Fernando Carro, CEO, concluded their multi-day trip to Brazil with a visit to the community-based organisation Bola Pra Frente in Rio de Janeiro – founded by former Werkself player Jorginho. During the visit, Bayer 04 committed to extending support for the Bola Pra Frente project for a further five years. In addition, Jorginho, a member of the Brazil 1994 World Cup-winning squad, was named Bayer 04’s second official club legend. With the visit to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the club has strengthened the relationships built up over the years in one of Bayer 04’s most important international markets.

Show more
Kristina Sundov
Women - 07.07.2026

Former player Kristina Sundov is new Bayer 04 Women’s team assistant coach

Ten years after retiring as a player, Kristina Sundov is returning to the Bayer 04 Women’s team as assistant coach. The 39-year-old former Croatia international takes over from Remzi Kahraman, who has taken up a new challenge abroad. She has been given a contract to 30 June 2028.

Show more
Victor Boniface, Kennet Eichhorn und Afonso Moreira
Bayer 04 - 06.07.2026

With Eichhorn and Moreira: Small group on training ground

The training pitches at the BayArena are already buzzing with activity again, even before training officially begins next week. On Monday morning, a small group from the Werkself first-team squad completed a session lasting around an hour. Both new and familiar faces were present.

Show more