Restart under the Cross – sponsors season launch at the BayArena

After the reception with a saxophone backing and the official welcome from Fernando Carro and Simon Rolfes at the BayArena piazza, the guests had a short tour through the Premium Lounge that has a new look for the start of the season as does the area on the first floor.

That was followed by a look at the new season in convivial company. Starters and main course were followed by panel discussions with Rolfes, professional teams director Thomas Eichin and head coach Erik ten Hag plus – from the players – new captain Robert Andrich, Jonas Hofmann, Arthur and new signing Christian Kofane.

Carro: "We are still very ambitious"

"We want to carry on showing we have the quality to compete at the top," said Rolfes in his welcome speech and he added: "Even if that path may be difficult sometimes: Our aim is to build up another team to win titles and lift trophies in the coming years." Carro also look forward to the new campaign: "We are still very ambitious and we want to remain one of the four best teams in Germany to get in the Champions League."

Andrich: "there's a lot of potential in the team"

Andrich reflected the restart in discussion with the stadium announcers Pitti and Tobi on the stage at the Premium Lounge: "There's a lot of potential in the team. We have a good mix of young and older players and that gets you up for the new season." One of the stalwarts in the squad is Hofmann who will support captain Andrich with his leading role in the new campaign. "We first want to get off to a good start in the season and then move forward step-by-step so we can say at the end of the season that we were successful."

As usual a good mood was provided by Brazilian full-back Arthur, who scored his first goal for the Werkself in the DFB Pokal game at Sonnenhof Großaspach, and now – with a wink of the eye – wants to be a goalscorer in the league as well: "Now I've opened that door and hopefully there'll be lots more to come."

Finding the back of the net is also a target for the season for Kofane who already feels at home in Leverkusen. "The lads are very nice to me, they come from different cultures and it's a very good mix here," said the 19 year-old who also had great fun in the DFB Pokal: "Before I came on as a sub, the coach said 'enjoy it' and I scored straightaway – that's why I enjoyed it so much." (He laughs)

ten Hag: "Fans are very important for us"

In another panel discussion, head coach ten Hag stressed the significance of the fans looking forward to the Bundesliga opener on Saturday, 23 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST) against TSG Hoffenheim: "Of course, home games at your own stadium with your own fans are always special even though there are always lots of fans at away games too. The support is very important for us and it makes us very proud."

Eichin spoke in his role as director of professional teams, with the 58-year-old also responsible for the Women's team, about the growing support of Werkself fans for the Women: "This team is no accident. We are very happy with the growing interest in the Women's team." He looked forward optimistically to the coming season: "We are very happy with the preseason. We have good coaching staff, a fit and athletic team and in Carlotta Wamser we have signed a Germany international who showed us what she can do at the Euros."

The first big highlight for the team led by head coach Roberto Pätzold comes on matchday one in the FLYERALARM Women's Bundesliga with the away game against Bayern Munich in front of 40,000 spectators at the Allianz Arena. "If you want to beat the big team Bayern then it's on a day like that. The girls know that too," said Eichin with certainty.

The enthusiasm of the guests at the BayArena for the start of the new season for both teams was clear to see after the panel discussions. In between genial discussions eyes turned again and again down to the pitch were the new Bundesliga season kicks off on Saturday.