Back
18.03.2022Bundesliga

Seoane ahead of #WOBB04: Creating enough chances

The Werkself have a third match in eight days on Sunday 20 March with the away game at VfL Wolfsburg (kick-off: 17.30 CET). After yesterday's exit from the Europa League following the 1-0 defeat to Atalanta in the Round of 16, head coach Gerardo Seoane primarily sees calm and determination in offensive play as crucial.

Ahead of the press conference, the Werkself completed a somewhat different programme on Friday morning: Instead of the usual regeneration session at the BayArena, the players went for a bike ride along the Rhine. "We'd already planned that at the start of the week to consciously break the monotony, clear heads and take in a different atmosphere together," said Seoane at the press conference.

"The disappointment is still evident with everybody. That's why we've tried to process the defeat together but also look forwards at the same time. We want to have all our strength for the league run-in," added the 43-year-old coach.

Seoane: Have to work on being more effective

For the game against the team currently lying twelfth in the Bundesliga, Seoane is primarily expecting his team to show more authority in front of goal: "The positive is that we are creating chances. We are doing a lot of sprints high up the pitch, and we make a lot of quick attacks with high intensity." At the same time, Seoane added: "We need more calm and determination in our finishing. So we have to work on being more effective."

The formation is not crucial in this respect according to the 43-year-old coach: "Which system we play depends on a lot of factors – the opponents, who we have available, as well as the condition of the players," explained Seoane and he added: "but however we play we have to be able to play to our strengths with more flexibility." The Swiss boss also primarily includes pace. "Through that we not only want to produce a good performance on the pitch on Sunday but also achieve a good result above all," declared Seoane.

Seoane: we can expect lots of energy and Power

With VfL, the coach is expecting a physical team who has their main strengths in the defensive area: "They have a lot of energy and power, always work well at the back so that they only give away a few goalscoring opportunities.”

The focus up front is primarily on their strength in the air as well as the Wolves' three strikers: Lukas Nmecha, Jonas Wind and Max Kruse. "All three have very high individual quality and they can make the difference with their ideas," said Seoane.

Baumgartlinger in the squad

After the two midfield players Karim Bellarabi and Robert Andrich made a successful return to the pitch yesterday, Seoane can also look forward to another returnee to the squad: Julian Baumgartlinger is available again. The Black and Reds number 15 made his first comeback to the squad in the away game at Bayern Munich (1-1). The 34-year-old will again be in the squad for the Wolfsburg game.

question mark over Fosu-Mensah 

Definitely ruled out are Andrey Lunev, Jeremie Frimpong (both ankle ligament injuries) plus Florian Wirtz, who suffered a torn cruciate in the last Bundesliga match against FC Köln (0-1).

Patrik Schick is also unable to play in the game at the Volkswagen Arena but he continues to make progress in individual rehab training and he completed an individual session on Friday morning too. "Patrik is in rehab training but he hasn't taken part in full training yet. The workload in the individual programme is different from training with the team. So he's not an option for Wolfsburg."

There is also a question mark over Timothy Fosu-Mensah. The right-back is today undergoing an MRI scan on his right thigh.

 

Related News

Bayer 04-Frauen
Women - 28.07.2026

Bayer 04 confirmed as a DFB women’s talent development centre

The German Football Association (DFB) has officially recognised Bayer 04 as a centre for the development of female talent for the 2026/27 season. The club was awarded that role on 1 January 2026, and this status has now been renewed.

Show more
Andrea Natali
Bayer 04 - 28.07.2026

Andrea Natali joins AZ Alkmaar on permanent deal

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have sold young defender Andrea Natali to AZ Alkmaar on permanent terms. The 18-year-old Italian was on loan at the Dutch club last season, where he mainly played for the reserve team in the second division.

Show more
Luca Erlein
Bayer 04 - 27.07.2026

Bayer 04 loan Luca Erlein to Energie Cottbus

Bayer 04 Leverkusen have loaned new signing Luca Erlein to newly promoted FC Energie Cottbus for the 2026/27 season. This will give him the opportunity to play in Bundesliga 2. The club signed the 19-year-old right-back on a permanent basis last week, on a contract to 30 June 2030.

Show more
3-1 win in Offenbach: A treat for the fans | Friendly
Werkself-TV - 25.07.2026

TV highlights of 3-1 win in friendly at Offenbach

Werkself TV shows the highlights of the 3-1 victory in the friendly match at Kickers Offenbach...

Show more
Moreira
Bayer 04 - 25.07.2026

3–1 win in Offenbach: A treat for the fans

It’s always nice having your best friends round for a birthday! Bayer 04 made a guest appearance at Stadion am Bieberer Berg as part of Offenbacher Kickers’ 125th anniversary celebrations, and nearly 1,500 Werkself supporters accepted the invitation to this historic venue, joining the Offenbach crowd in celebrating the more than 45-year friendship between the clubs. On the pitch, the Werkself secured a 3–1 victory in the friendly against the fourth-tier Regionalliga side. The Leverkusen goals were scored by Christian Kofane (38’), Jonas Hofmann (48’) and Afonso Moreira (81’). Keanu Staude had put the hosts ahead in the first half (11’).

Show more