Bernd, on the road to the DFB Cup final we are up against our bogey team in this competition Werder Bremen: The six previous cup games against the second most successful club in this competition have ended in six defeats for Bayer 04. High time to improve this record, wouldn't you agree?
Bernd Leno: It will do us good to take Werder Bremen very seriously. The team has been shaken up since the arrival of the new coach. Their performances are improving and in the 1-0 win in December we saw how difficult it is to beat Werder. On the other hand, it is true we have a score to settle with Bremen in this competition. Our motivation is very high to overcome this hurdle at our own ground and progress to the semi-finals.
How important is the DFB Cup to you this season?
Leno: The DFB Cup is our European competition this season. That's applied since the first round in Karlsruhe. We're really up for this competition. It gives us a great chance of winning a title. That's almost impossible in the Bundesliga. Let's not forget: I definitely want to experience another cup final in Berlin.
Another?
Leno: Yes. I was at the Cup Final between Bayer 04 and Werder Bremen in 2009.
As a fan?
Leno: No. With a Germany youth international team. I can remember the atmosphere really well. The Olympic Stadium is completely different than with a normal Bundesliga match. This time I want to feel that special thrill as a player. Particularly as Kies has raved about that experience to us on several occasions. It would be massive if we could do that again for the end of his career – and, of course, bring the Cup back home with us.
You were in the Werkself side for the quarter-finals of this competition in 2014, 2015 and 2016 but did not manage to make it to the last four. Which Cup exit was the most disappointing?
Leno: For me it was going out against FC Kaiserslautern (2014, editors note). We didn't get anything right in the 120 minutes against them. Then they missed a penalty in extra time but we didn't exploit it. Instead they scored the winner just before the end. Unbelievable. That annoyed me for a long time.
We hope it'll be different today. Bremen are fighting against relegation in the league but in the Cup Werder have knocked out two Bundesliga sides in the wins against TSG Hoffenheim (1-0) and SC Freiburg (3-2). What sort of game are you expecting?
Leno: We'll probably have to be patient. Bremen won't do us the favour of going all out on attack. They will keep it tight at the back and look to play on the break. We have to be prepared for that. We can't afford to lose our heads and be too hectic. Our last home game against Mainz is definitely a valuable lesson in that direction. We were patient then too and were rewarded for our disciplined display after the break. We want to carry on from there.
What do you think the atmosphere will be like at the BayArena tonight?
Leno: The atmosphere has been really outstanding this season. I get the impression the experiences from last season have done us good. Of course, all the defeats were not good and everybody would have been happy not to have performed the escape act at the end of the season. But when we were up to our necks in it, the fans and team came together. That was start of something there were still benefiting from today. For example in the home game against Mainz. We were totally on top but couldn't score and went into half-time with the score at 0-0. There were no whistles, no moaning. Instead full support from the fans which we were able to repay with two goals after the break.
What part do fans play in knockout games like today's?
Leno: They play a big role. Knockout games usually provide special excitement. And if the game's up in the air then nerves can come into play. When your own fans help you in a situation like that then it's worth it's weight in gold. That support can make the difference required to win out in the end.
Kicking off the new season with a fresh look: Bayer 04, in collaboration with sportswear manufacturer New Balance, has unveiled the official kit for Leverkusen’s e-Sports players for the coming season. The jersey is now available from the Bayer 04 online shop and the Fanwelt.
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Paulo Sergio and Bayer 04 have enjoyed close ties since the Werkself training camp in his native Brazil last summer. The club legend is in charge of the Bayer 04 Soccer Academy, which opened in the summer of 2025, and he has also been at this year’s training camp in the Weimarer Land. As well as interacting with the many fans who travelled to the camp, the 1994 World Cup winner used the time to plan the next steps for the Academy together with club officials. In an interview with bayer04.de, Sergio spoke about the project’s future development, the upcoming visit by young Academy players to Leverkusen, and plans for the coming months in Germany and Brazil.
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A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day five (Thursday 6 August) is as follows: The squad have the final open session of the training camp in the morning. After lunch, there will be a team event.
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A round-up of the Werkself training camp in the Weimarer Land, all in one place: in our daily blog you’ll find all the insights and updates from the day. Day four (Wednesday 5 August) is all about training. The day begins with a gruelling open training session – new signing Miguel Gutiérrez also takes part. A second session follows in the afternoon, this time behind closed doors.
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At the training camp in the Weimarer Land region, Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez and his long-standing assistant Pol García talk about their first few weeks with the Werkself, their expectations of their own work, the coaching staff and the squad, as well as the style of football they want the team to play. They emphasise the importance of a winning mentality within the team, comment on cultural and personal differences in the world of football, and outline their goals for the coming season...
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