Heiko Herrlich was able to welcome back three players to the training ground for the morning session. Leon Bailey has recovered from his cold with Karim Bellarabi (knee) and Charles Aránguiz (Achilles) also rejoining their team-mates on the training ground.
"Charly completed all eight sprints and wanted to do the whole session. Now we'll have to see how he's coped and if there's a reaction," said Heiko Herrlich after the training session. Over the past few days, the Chilean has worked exclusively with fitness coach Daniel 'Giga' Jouvin and gradually increased his workload. To ensure progress with his return, the coach rested Aránguiz in the afternoon. Herrlich was unable to predict the date of his comeback but the boss was optimistic regarding the next few weeks: "Charly is benefiting from his previous experience. It was similar last summer: He joined the squad relatively late and didn't complete that many sessions but then played soon after that – and he did well! Physically, he's basically in good shape at the moment.”
Karim Bellarabi and Leon Bailey showed they are fighting fit again in a foot race. "Both of them completed half the sprints. In the moves, we used the pair of them and Aránguiz in a passive role. It's looking very good for the both of them," said Herrlich. During the training session, the man in the mask, Lukas Hradecky, joined the other two keepers. At the end of last week, the Finn completed the warm-up session with the rest of the squad and today he was back in one-on-one session – at first without the mask and then with it, as a safety measure, when the ball was involved.
On Wednesday morning (10.30 CET), the Werkself have a final open training session this week before Heiko Herrlich prepares for his fifth match in charge against the Foals behind closed doors. The four previous fixtures have seen the 46-year-old come out on top every time and a repeat would not go amiss on Saturday: "Our aim, of course, is to get a result– preferably picking up all three points. It's important to get a good start." Herrlich does not believe it's a foregone conclusion: "It's always incredibly difficult at Mönchengladbach. I watched our opponents at the weekend – they're on fire and capable of scoring. They will push is all the way."
Before the Werkself get going in the league, the Bayer 04 fan clubs have a meeting at the BayArena. At the annual event, which involves around 400 fan club members, there will also be Bayer 04 management members present. Rudi Völler, Heiko Herrlich, Lars Bender and, for the first time, the new chairman of the board, Fernando Carro, will be involved in the exchange with fan clubs.
As with the other youth teams (U16 to U19), Bayer 04 are also relying on familiar faces—some in new roles—and fresh impetus from the coaching staff for the 2026/27 season in the younger age groups. An overview of the U11 to U15 teams.
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After eight years in the youth set-up at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, Benjamin Adam is leaving the club. The 35-year-old, who most recently coached the Leverkusen U17s, will take charge of the Hansa Rostock U19 team next season.
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As well as internal changes and familiar faces, Bayer 04 are also looking to bring fresh impetus to the coaching staff of the senior youth squads for the 2026/27 campaign. Here is an overview of the U19, U17 and U16 teams.
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Bayer 04 have signed 16-year-old defensive midfielder Kennet Eichhorn from Hertha Berlin. The Germany U17 international is joining the Werkself from the Berlin Bundesliga 2 club on a long-term contract. Eichhorn made 19 appearances for the Hertha Berlin first team last season, scoring two goals.
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