The Werkself head coach experienced on the opening day of the league campaign how the newly promoted club surprised Bayer 04 with a passionate performance at the BayArena. The encounter on matchday one saw Bayer 04 win 3-2 – at the same time Paderborn did not make it easy for the Werkself as Bosz recalls: "We did win but the game was very open. It was an attractive match for the fans but I'd have liked more control as the coach." His team has developed since the meeting in the middle of August but it definitely won't be any easier.
On top of that, there is a run of five games without a win. "We can't afford to let it get to us. We are making mistakes and we have to learn from them but we're also doing a lot of things right. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be able to create as many chances. You can never get everything right in football but we can do more things better. We need to be more decisive, particularly in the final third," declared the 55-year-old ahead of the first meeting with Paderborn in the domestic cup competition and he once again stressed what it would come down to: "We have to have control – that's very important when you're playing an attacking game. Otherwise it will be an end-to-end encounter."
The Werkself have reached the Round of 16 in six of the last seven DFB Cup campaigns and will be expecting to go through this time too: "We have to win tomorrow's game. The DFB Cup is very important to the club, to me and to us all," emphasised the head coach but he also sounded a warning about Paderborn who had a boost at the weekend. After beating SV Rödinghausen in the first round of the DFB Cup, SCP clocked up their second win of the season. "We won't underestimate Paderborn. They are a good and dangerous team who've shown the right mentality in recent games and they always look to get forward. They'll try that again tomorrow," said Bosz with confidence.
Bosz was waiting until after the final pre-match training session before choosing his team – that will also depend on the availability of Kai Havertz, who is recovering from illness and Sven Bender, who suffered another problem with his ankle that saw him substituted against Werder on Saturday. With Wendell, "that's not the case," said the Dutchman who will also have to manage without Charles Aránguiz, Daley Sinkgraven and Leon Bailey.
Match information:
Tickets: Tickets are still available for the game – ticket offices are open two hours before kick-off-off. Print@home tickets are also available.
Referee: Sven Jablonski (Bremen)
Live TV broadcaster: Sky
Matchday hashtag: #B04SCP
They had their hands full in the VAR centre in Cologne: eight goals were scored at the MEWA Arena on Saturday afternoon, but only four of them were allowed in the end as the Werkself and 1. FSV Mainz 05 closed the season with a 2-2 draw. It means Bayer 04 end the 2024/25 campaign as runners-up with 69 points, representing the fourth-best season in the club's history. What's more, the Werkself are now unbeaten away from home in two whole Bundesliga seasons, with their last away defeat coming exactly two years ago on Matchday 34 of the 2022/23 season at VfL Bochum. The Black-and-Reds can continue the record run next season - albeit without Alonso and Tah. Read what else the eventful final game for the head coach and the defensive leader had to offer in the Werkself Review.
Show moreWerkself-TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-2 draw at Mainz 05 on the 34th matchday of the Bundesliga 2024/25...
Show moreBayer 04’s final game of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season saw VAR drama and produced a new record for away results with a 2-2 draw in Mainz. The hosts had several goals ruled out before Paul Nebel put them ahead. Patrik Schick’s brace then turned things around in the second half before Jonathan Burkardt’s penalty levelled the game again. It means Leverkusen have now gone 34 away games without defeat in the Bundesliga, which no team has ever done before.
Show moreThe Werkself bring down the curtain on their 2024/25 Bundesliga campaign with a game away at Mainz on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Matchday 34 meeting at the MEWA Arena.
Show moreXabi Alonso is leaving Leverkusen at the end of the season. In his final interview as Werkself coach, he talks about his two-and-a-half years at the helm, the greatest moments of his historic tenure and his appreciation of the connection with the fans and players throughout their remarkable progress together.
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