Hello Adrian, how did it come about that you’re in the Bundesliga Home Challenge with Kai?
In the middle of February, ‘Deto’ and I played against Lucas Alario and Wendell during a PR day and we won 2-0. I don’t know whether the win was down to me (he laughs). When the request came from Florian Dederichs (head of internationalisation and eSports at Bayer 04, ed.) a few days ago, I was happy to say yes.
Professional football is suspended at the moment due to the coronavirus pandemic. Have you used your time over the past few days to train on the console?
I mainly spend my time training for real football at the moment and keeping myself as fit as possible. I push the treadmill onto the terrace and train in the garden in the fresh air. Of course, I’ve played a few games on PlayStation over the past few days since I got the thumbs-up but I’m just looking to have fun with it.
What tactics do you prefer on the console?
I used to play PlayStation 2 and 3 as well as FIFA. Over the years, I’ve noticed I’m more of a counter-attacking player who wants to quickly bag a couple of goals and then sit back – I’m not good at holding onto the ball in virtual football. But I’ll definitely ask Kai for one or two tips before the game.
Do you reckon you might get one or two messages from your teammates if you lose to the Darmstadt player Felix Platte?
They’ll definitely get in touch if I do lose… (he laughs)
On the Bundesliga Home Challenge:
The DFL Bundesliga Home Challenge is an eSports tournament with 26 clubs from the Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 taking part. Each club has a team made up of at least one first team player and a person “from the relevant club or closely linked to it.” The duos – each of them at home – play online in two individual games on the football game FIFA 20 and on PlayStation 4 (‘85-mode’). The matches will be broadcast on the Virtual Bundesliga YouTube channel and the clashes involving Bayer 04 will also be on the ‘b04esports’ Twitch channel. Bayer 04 TV will also show highlights.
Issa Traoré is moving from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Slovakian top-flight side AS Trencin. The club has loaned the centre-back out for one year to this year’s ninth-placed team in the Slovakian league.
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Assistant coach Remzi Kahraman is leaving the Bayer 04 Women’s team with immediate effect to take up a new challenge abroad. The club has agreed to the 31-year-old’s request to leave, although his contract was originally due to run until 2027. A decision on his successor will be announced shortly.
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At the U19 European Championship in Wales, the Germany U19 national team lost their third and final group match 4-0 to Spain. Several regulars, including Bayer 04 players Montrell Culbreath and Francis Onyeka (on loan to SV Elversberg), who had combined for four goals and assists in the two previous victories, did not feature,. Germany had already secured their place in the semi-finals with a game to spare.
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Two weeks into the preseason, the Bayer 04 Women have secured their first victory. Coach Roberto Pätzold’s team won their first friendly 2–0 against Bundesliga newcomers Mainz 05. In front of 160 spectators at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre, the two summer signings, Maja Sternad (80’) and Justine Brandau (90’), scored for the Black and Reds.
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