Paulinho was on the training ground long before his team-mates in wonderful spring weather conditions. After Kevin Volland, Karim Bellarabi and Co. arrived and had completed the warm-up routine, there was more intensive work with the ball. After just more than an hour, Bosz let the U19 youngsters Herdi Bukusu, Ömer Tokac, Ayman Azhil, Marc Lamti, keeper Marcel Lotka plus U17 player Yannick Schlösser go and he concentrated on working on moves with his players with breaks from time to time to explain tactics.
Dominik Kohr spent the final session working one-on-one on a neighbouring pitch with assistant coach Xaver Zembrod and Sven Bender did not complete the training session either but instead returned to the dressing room a few minutes early. Joel Pohjanpalo, who returned to full training for the first time this week, carried on to the end. The Finn certainly did not take it easy in the session – the 24-year-old clearly enjoyed every challenge.
Panos Retsos, who returned to full training last week, is ready to play in tomorrow's friendly against Ajax if required: "It will be a while before I'm fully fit again but I'm back in full training and perhaps I can play tomorrow." The Greece international has been out injured for a long time but he is now on his way back again – not least thanks to the support of his team-mates over recent months: "It's been a difficult year for me. The team have got behind me and really helped. That was important for me – particularly in getting my head straight."
The Werkself will be able to take a short break after tomorrow's friendly with no more full training sessions before Saturday. The next open session is on Sunday at 10.30 CET.
A cracker of a semi-final at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. The Bayer 04 U19 team entertain Bayern Munich on Saturday, 10 May (kick-off: 11:00 CEST/stadium opens: 10:00 CEST). In front of a home crowd, the team led by head coach Sergi Runge, who welcomes back an attacking player, is looking to build on the battling performances from the previous knockout games and "perform at the right moment." Tickets are available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the game will also be broadcast live on Sky.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen announces the launch of three new digital channels in Portuguese, designed to bring fans in Brazil, Portugal, and Portuguese-speaking communities around the world even closer to the pulse of Die Werkself throughout the year.
Show moreGermany U17 head coach Marc Meister has called up three Bayer 04 youth players for the forthcoming UEFA U17 European Championship. The tournament involving eight teams runs from 19 May to 1 June in Albania.
Show more"We have mixed feelings overall today," said head coach Xabi Alonso after the 2-2 draw away to SC Freiburg. Bayer 04 were deservedly 2-0 down against the Champions League contenders up to the closing minutes but fought back with a double whammy from Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Tah to earn a point in the end. That maintains the run of unbeaten away games in the Bundesliga – the all-time record has been achieved! The Werkself review.
Show more