Today's pre-match press conference started with the subject of the announcement of the contract extension for Bosz to 2022. The 56-year-old and Bayer 04 sporting director Simon Rolfes spoke about the contract extension before focusing on the clash with SCP.
And the Dutchman, whose team won the earlier league meeting at the BayArena 3-2 and the DFB Cup game 1-0 at the same venue, immediately highlighted the strengths of the opponents. While Paderborn are currently bottom, "we are talking about the hardest-working team in the league." The hosts covered a total of 2,034 kilometres in the first half of the season. That's three more than the Werkself who are second in that ranking. Bosz: "If nothing less, we have great respect for Paderborn because of that and it will be a tough game. They never give up, have great mentality and are fighting fit!"
It's important to the head coach that the away game does not turn into an end-to-end encounter. "Then everything will be unstructured. That suits them because they have very quick players up front. We'll try to be very compact," explained Bosz who will have to manage without the injured Charles Aránguiz, the suspended Leon Bailey, Wendell and new signing Exequiel Palacios. In addition, Paulinho is away with the Brazil Olympic squad.
Looking back at the first half of the season, the Werkself head coach wishes his team could score more goals. However, he is convinced that they are capable of putting that into action – for two reasons: "We've already shown we can score a lot of goals. In addition, we've created a lots of goalscoring opportunities – above all at the beginning of the season; that's always the start of it. That gives me confidence that we can score more goals than in first half of the season."
Match information:
TV broadcaster: Sky (TV) plus Werkself Radio (Start: 17.30 CET at bayer04.de)
Referee: Daniel Siebert
Tickets: Seats in the stand are available for Bayer 04 fans at the ground.
Today sees Bayer 04 go head-to-head with their next direct rivals in the race for Champions League qualification (kick-off 15:30 CEST). Opponents Stuttgart are currently fifth in the table, level on points with the Werkself but one place below them due to a three-goal inferior goal difference. The Black and Reds' record at Bad Cannstatt tells a clearer story: they've not lost at VfB for over 16 years. One important factor in securing what would be three crucial points away from home is Leverkusen's strength on the counter-attack. Whilst Stuttgart are also extremely dangerous going forward, they will be without their captain. Today’s matchday news.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have extended the contract with full-back Arthur ahead of schedule. The Werkself have agreed a new deal with the Brazilian to 30 June 2031. The 23-year-old was previously under contract to the summer of 2028.
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