Live blog - The Werkself away to Manchester City ✈️🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

+++ 24 November, 15:36: Manchester-bound! ✈️+++

The Werkself have arrived at Cologne Bonn Airport! At 15:55, the team plane takes off for Manchester. Landing is scheduled for 17:30. We'll report back later from British soil!

+++ 24 November, 13:02: Rolfes on the team's development 💬 +++

In parallel to the action on the pitch, sporting managing director Simon Rolfes spoke to the numerous media representatives in attendance. He was quite confident: "The learning from the past games against the top opponents is that we must and can be more courageous. It's normal to suffer from time to time in games like this. But you also have to try to set the tone yourself in order to hurt the top teams. And we're currently in good shape to do that."

This is mainly due to the growing team awareness and visible learning effects, Rolfes continued: "We've managed to get more dominance into our own game, more link-up play and more understanding for each other. That's particularly important when you link-up a lot - to know what the other team are doing," said Rolfes. "That's why games like this are so wonderful, because you're pushed to your limits, sometimes even beyond them, but you develop further in any case. So we're heading into the game with confidence, a lot of energy and joy."

Rolfes also had words of praise for Aleix Garcia, who will take part in the press conference this evening alongside coach Kasper Hjulmand: "We signed him last year with the idea that he could take on this role and exude dominance from the number 6 position. This year, he's showing that his passing is incredibly reliable, he demands the ball, gives our game a rhythm and the idea from a year ago is working."

After lunch together in the BayArena, the entourage will start making its way towards the airport in a few minutes...

+++ 24 November, 12:56: Birthday guard of honour at the final training session 🎁🥳 +++

At 12.30 on the dot, the Werkself got down to business one last time at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion before travelling to Manchester. The icy temperatures did nothing to dampen the spirits of everyone involved. The session kicked off with a fun guard of honour for birthday boy Ibrahim Maza, who turned 20 today. All the best, Ibo!

Training then continued in small groups with various passing sequences and shooting at mini goals. Robert Andrich and Edmond Tapsoba also took part in the final training session, although they will remain in Leverkusen.  Andrich is suspended following a red card, Tapsoba is sidelined after picking up a yellow. Assistant coach Rogier Meijer is also suspended following his red card in Lisbon and will watch the match from the stands.

+++ 24 November, 12:42: Final training session for the U19s at the BayArena ✔️ +++

The U19s started their final session ahead of tomorrow's UEFA Youth League clash right on time at 11.30. The final training session under the direction of coach Kevin Brok on one of the training pitches next to the BayArena came to an end a few minutes ago. Now it's time for the boys to take a shower, then have lunch together and finally take the team bus to Cologne Bonn Airport. You can find all the information and comments on the Youth League match in Manchester at the following link:

PREVIEW!

+++ 24 November, 11:47: Already got the Manchester sticker? 🤝 +++

As you know, the motto of our Champions League tour this season is ‘Sound of Dreams - #aCROSS Europe 2025/26’. To mark the occasion, there's a special tour pass in the Fanwelt in which you can put a sticker for every UCL match. In addition, a specially created, matching Spotify playlist will get you in the right Champions League mood.

+++24 November, 9:04: We're ready to get cracking! 😍 +++

Good morning, Werkself fans! The next European trip of the 2025/26 UEFA Champions League campaign starts today and takes Bayer to English top-flight club Manchester City. And this is the schedule for the day: The Werkself will have their final training session at around 12.30 at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. The first 15 minutes are open to media representatives and, as always, will be broadcast live on our YouTube channel. Sporting managing director Simon Rolfes will also speak to the media shortly before the start of training - the key statements will of course also be available here.

After lunch following the session, the Bayer 04 squad - including the U19s for tomorrow's UEFA Youth League match - will head to the airport and from there to Manchester. After landing, head coach Kasper Hjulmand and former City player Aleix Garcia will head straight to the press conference at the City of Manchester Stadium, tomorrow's venue. A packed schedule - and of course you'll be with us every step of the way!