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.
The Werkself are away to Dutch top-flight club Fortuna Sittard in the third pre-season friendly. The match is on Friday, 1 August at the Fortuna Sittard stadium with the kick-off at 19:00 CEST. Read on for information on ticket sales.
Show moreThe Werkself are away to VfL Bochum in the second pre-season friendly. The match is on Sunday, 27 July at the Vonovia Ruhrstadion with the kick-off at 18:00 CEST. Read on for the latest information on ticket sales.
Show moreA striking look and innovative design as an expression of a forward-looking partnership: With the official presentation of the current home jersey, Bayer 04 Leverkusen and sports equipment manufacturer New Balance start a new era in tandem. For the first partnership with a professional German club, the American company from Boston, Massachusetts has developed a creative new interpretation of the Leverkusen club colours. A row of red lines, made up of slender crosses, merges into a black background. Inspired by the world famous Bayer Cross, the jersey is a symbol of a new beginning without forgetting historical roots.
Show moreThe Werkself home jersey for the 2025/ 26 season is here! A row of red lines, made up of slender crosses, merges into a black background. Inspired by the world famous Bayer Cross, the jersey is a symbol of a new beginning without forgetting our historical roots. The new home jersey is available now from the Bayer 04 shops and the online shop.
Show moreBayer 04 Leverkusen and sports equipment manufacturer New Balance start a new era in tandem. For the first partnership with a professional German club, the American company from Boston, Massachusetts has developed a creative new interpretation of the Leverkusen club colours.
Show more