In addition to the two managing directors Fernando Carro and Rudi Völler, the sporting director Simon Rolfes, the coaching and support staff, there are 27 players staying at the conference hotel owned by Bayer Gastronomie GmbH. The players are Lucas Alario, Nadiem Amiri, Charles Aránguiz, Ayman Azhil, Leon Bailey, Julian Baumgartlinger, Karim Bellarabi, Lars Bender, Sven Bender, Kerem Demirbay, Moussa Diaby, Aleksandar Dragovic, Kai Havertz, Lukas Hradecky, Niklas Lomb, Wendell, Ramazan Özcan, Exequiel Palacios, Paulinho, Daley Sinkgraven, Adrian Stanilewicz, Jonathan Tah, Edmond Tapsoba, Mitchell Weiser, Fabian Rüth, Marcel Lotka and Florian Wirtz.
After arriving in Wermelskirchen, Fernando Carro, Bayer 04 CEO, explained the decision to use the hotel in Bergisches Land. “It was important to us for the players to have the chance to get away from the training ground – that’s why we decided against using the Lindner Hotel at the BayArena and for the Große Ledder. On top of that, our hygiene officer Dr. Karl-Heinrich Dittmar looked at the hotel beforehand. We can meet all the hygiene and organisational requirements here,” said the 55-year-old.
With regard to the forthcoming intensity of the coming weeks, it is very important to have regular communication with the players. Fernando Carro: “We rarely have so many and long meetings with the team as we’re having at the moment. We’ve explained a lot to them and answered their questions. We all see it as a privilege to be able to carry on with the Bundesliga. Therefore, we are grateful for the confidence shown in us and we’ll do all we can to make sure playing the games is as safe as possible and that we fulfil all requirements.”
The Black and Reds will only leave their accommodation this week for the – continuing closed – sessions at the training ground at the BayArena. On Sunday, 17 May, Carro, Völler and Co. will head north. Bayer 04 are away to Werder Bremen at the Wohninvest Weserstadion in the final game of matchday 26 on Monday, 18 May, at 20.30 CET. That is followed by another away game at Borussia Mönchengladbach (22-24 May). The first home fixture at the BayArena is on 26 or 27 May when VfL Wolfsburg are the visitors.
Whether it's sport or his private live: Captain Edmond Tapsoba tells us his top three personal favourites in twelve categories in edition #56 of the Werkself Magazine. The defender had to answer as quickly as he reacts on the pitch. 'On the Podium' with Edmond Tapsoba!
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“Year after year, this is an incredibly valuable gathering, both in terms of the content covered and the opportunity for mutual discussion,” stressed Bayer 04 goalkeeping coach David Thiel in his welcoming address at this year’s goalkeeping coaches’ meeting. This was the third time in four seasons that the event had been held at the BayArena. Organised by the German Football Association (DFB), the meeting brought together goalkeeping coaches from the Bundesliga, Bundesliga 2 and the 3rd division from the west region. For the first time this year, goalkeeping coaches from the youth performance centres (NLZ) were also present. Bayer 04 fitness coach Markus Müller provided fascinating insights into the specific fitness training carried out with the Werkself’s goalkeepers.
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A floodlit derby, two further night games and a top-of-the-table clash on a Saturday afternoon: The German Football Association (DFB) has confirmed the exact dates for four further matchdays in the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga. This means all fixtures for the Bayer 04 women’s team up to the end of the year, as well as the first two in 2027, are now confirmed.
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It was another incredibly close call in the end: The second showdown in the 2026/27 VBL Club Championship saw the #B04eSports team once again narrowly miss out on a place in the top 16 of the preliminary round – and with it, a spot in the in-person knockout stage. It was a bitter blow: Marc and Sean Landwehr again fell just short, despite being level on points with their rivals. As was the case last month, their weaker record across the twelve individual matches in the six preliminary round fixtures proved decisive.
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Several Werkself players are set to represent their national teams during the final international break of 2026. Here’s an overview of who has been called up and the matches they will face in November. This article will be updated regularly.
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