As with every match, the Swiss coach has gathered a wealth of information from a number of people about the forthcoming opposition - in this case Union Berlin. One of them: Robert Andrich. The Werkself midfield dynamo played for Union up to the summer of last year. “Of course, we’ve spoken to Rob to find out what made it easier or more difficult for him and Union against opponents last season,” explained Gerardo Seoane at Friday’s pre-match press conference.
There is no question the Leverkusen head coach and his team face opponents in the first fixture of the year who are “resilient and well-organised. They know exactly how they want to play and have a clear plan.” In addition, the team under Seoane’s countryman Urs Fischer have a player in versatile forward Max Kruse who can always play a “decisive role.”
In the first match of the year, Leverkusen will definitely have to manage without five players: Julian Baumgartlinger and Charles Aránguiz are injured, Edmond Tapsoba and Odilon Kossounou are involved in the Africa Cup of Nations.
In addition, Seoane announced on Friday that Nadiem Amiri has tested positive for coronavirus. “He has recovered, had two vaccinations and a booster but is now infected again. That shows what a huge challenge the situation presents for us and the whole of society,” said the Swiss boss. “Coronavirus will influence who is available to work in football and society. We all have to come to terms with that. There are lots of other places, such as hospitals, where absences will have a much greater effect.”
There is a question mark over the availability of Exequiel Palacios after he injured his back in training at the start of the week. According to Seoane, it “will be decided over the course of today or tomorrow” if the Argentinian can be included in the squad.
The absences affect positions in central midfield and central defence. Nevertheless, the coach believes his team is ready for the opening match of 2022 against Union. “We’ve got the options and enough players in the squad to fill those positions who we have great confidence in,” said the 43-year-old. One of those is Piero Hincapie who is definitely available after returning from his home country of Ecuador after being in quarantine due to coronavirus.
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…
Show more
To all Bayer 04 fans: The Fanwelt will be closed all day next Monday 30 June. This is due to preparations for the change of kit supplier from Castore to New Balance on Tuesday 1 July.
Show more
The Norway U23 international Julie Jorde has completed the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Brøndby IF. The twelve-time champions of Denmark have signed the midfielder on permanent terms after her loan move from the Bundesliga to Denmark in the winter.
Show more
It is almost two years since Bayer 04 new signing Abdoulaye Faye first stepped foot into the BayArena as a player for the Swedish club BK Häcken in the opening match in the 2023/24 Europa League campaign. A day before his nineteenth birthday, the central defender did not play in the 4-0 win for the Werkself but it was "an incredible night" for him on 21 September 2023 as he explained in his first interview on bayer04.de. "I watched the players and saw the fans. I liked it." It was also the first European night early on in his career. He only joined the then champions of Sweden in the cold north of Europe from his home in Senegal a few weeks before that special moment. Bayer04.de profiles our new defender.
Show more
Welcome, Abdoulaye Faye. The 20-year-old Senegalese central defender joins Leverkusen from top-flight Swedish club BK Häcken. In his first interview he talks about his move to Bayer 04 and his targets with the Werkself.
Show more
