Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.
After days off at the start of the week as a reward for successful qualification for the Champions League, his team “were focused and in good mood in training,” as Gerardo Seoane explained on Friday afternoon. The Swiss coach is full of anticipation: “It’s our last game of the season, the atmosphere will be great – I feel everybody is really keen to play tomorrow.”
And the target is clear: a win – for the fans but also for Rudi Völler. The Hanau-born former Germany international joined Leverkusen as player in 1994 and he went on to become caretaker coach, sporting director and most recently the Bayer 04 sporting managing director. The 43-year-old coach was full of praise for the 62-year-old: “We have all benefited from Rudi’s experience and know-how and we what he has done for Bayer 04 and German football. We are very happy he will stay on in another role and we wish him all the best.” After this season, Völler will join the shareholders committee at the club and also be a Bayer 04 ambassador.
While the Werkself are certain of finishing third, Freiburg in fifth place, with a two-point gap to RB Leipzig (away to Bielefeld) in fourth, are still in with a chance of qualifying for the Champions League. “They are at the top end of the table for a reason and have absolutely deserved to qualify for Europe,” declared Seoane who primarily highlighted the strength of tomorrow’s opponents from set pieces.
Tomorrow’s game will also be the final game for Werkself player Julian Baumgartlinger. The now 34-year-old midfielder joined Bayer 04 from Mainz 05 six years ago and he went on to make over 150 appearances for the Black and Reds. Seoane said Baumi would play against SCF and he thanked him for his commitment in a Werkself shirt: “We are all very grateful to have such a player and person in our ranks. Even though he’s had a lot of bad luck with injuries this season he was always close the team and, above all, he was ready to help young players at all times. We really wish him a good future and hope he will stay fit and healthy.”
Kerem Demirbay is definitely ruled out through injury. Jeremie Frimpong is also not in the squad. “It’s come too early for him,” said Seoane who is thinking about possible changes in his line-up but he was unwilling to share his ideas at the press conference.
Bayer 04’s Alejandro Grimaldo has been voted the Bundesliga’s Player of the Month for April 2024. It’s the 28-year-old’s first title of this season, having been nominated six times previously during his maiden campaign in Germany.
Show more
Bayer 04 are in the DFB Pokal final for the fifth time in the club’s history. The final at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin is on Saturday 25 May with the kick-off at 20.00 CEST. After the majority of the ticket allocation available to Bayer 04 has been sold, a last ticket allocation from returns and previously blocked allocations now go on sale to members.
Show more
Victor Boniface has been voted Bundesliga Rookie of the Season 2023/24 in his first season as a Werkself player. The striker, who has won the Bundesliga Rookie of the Month award four times this term, has scored 13 goals and provided nine assists in his 22 Bundesliga appearances to date.
Show more
A week ahead of the big showdown in Dublin, the focus at Bayer 04 on Wednesday was the final in the UEFA Europa League against Atalanta (22 May, 21.00 CEST). While the Werkself players negotiated numerous photo and interview slots as part of the UEFA Media Open Day, head coach Xabi Alonso fielded questions from journalists at a press conference on the final against the top Italian club.
Show more