Back
19.03.2020Europa League

Report: ‘Welcome to Ibrox’

The trip to Scotland, the away game at the legendary Ibrox Stadium: There was much joy for the Werkself when Didi Hamann picked out Glasgow Rangers as the Round of 16 opponents at the end of February. Last Thursday, a week ago to the day, the time had come. We take a look back at the trip to the Scottish city, the 3-1 win, and the last match in front of a crowd for a long time due to the coronavirus pandemic.
crop_2020312_NB_Ibrox_Stadium_B04_gegen_Glasgow_Rangers_76083.jpg

Big clubs like Manchester United and Inter Milan, long trips to Ukraine or Greece – all were possible for the Werkself in the Round of 16. In the end, Dietmar ‘Didi’ Hamann drew out Rangers as the opponents. The unanimous reaction in the Black and Reds camp in Leverkusen: massive anticipation! And Rudi Völler, sporting managing director, declared after the draw: “Glasgow (Rangers) have wonderful fans and it will be a special experience for our supporters!”

It all finally got going last Wednesday: The Werkself completed the final pre-match training session ahead of the Rangers game at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium, while we, as the travelling club media team, made final preparations in the catacombs of the BayArena before setting off by coach to Cologne/Bonn Airport. The coronavirus pandemic that is dominating the news now was an issue on that morning but the current restrictions were unpredictable at the time.

 

 

crop_2020311_NB_vor_Abflug_Glasgow_76031.jpg

Sanitisers as giveaways

The unusual quiet at the Cologne/Bonn Airport was particularly noticeable. Only the neighbouring gate saw a group of travellers gather for a flight to Istanbul. Otherwise: empty corridors, escalators and shops. The Bayer 04 team and support staff arrived at Terminal 2. On a table for the travelling VIP guests and sponsors, along with the traditional friendship scarfs and pocket guides for the Rangers game, were small sanitisers.

Hot foot through the security checks, it was down the stairs in the direction of the buses to take the passengers to the aeroplane. But we first had to undergo a successful temperature measurement with an infrared forehead thermometer carried out by Dr. Karl-Heinrich Dittmar, the medical director at Bayer 04. The flight took off after everybody had successfully completed the check.

“The Brits are mad…”

We landed in Glasgow ninety minutes later. A coach took us straight from the airport to Ibrox Stadium. Press conference, viewing the stadium, sorting out final details with the Rangers media colleagues. The latter informed us in a friendly but firm manner: “We know it‘s rude. But we are not allowed to shake hands with you. Advice from our medical department.” As Obelix said: “The Brits are mad...” – or at least we thought so at the time.

crop_2020312_NB_Ibrox_Stadium_76065.jpg

UEFA corrects MARCA

By breakfast on the day of the match, there were ever-increasing reports of coronavirus and the effects of this pandemic on life in Europe were evident: Postponement of Europa League matches, games played behind closed doors, reports of infected football players. MARCA – a sports journal in Spain – announced all European games had been called off. A frenzy of activity ensued. Mobile phones were no longer silent, all the usual websites were checked. Over the course of the afternoon, and after contacting various people at UEFA, it all became clear: The match at Ibrox will be played – in front of a crowd.

On the one hand, relief, as that was why we flew to Glasgow and playing the game suggested ‘normality’ in crazy times. On the other hand, everything felt so surreal and uncertainty grew after each piece of news, from tweet to tweet, from one breaking news flash to the next. Finally, in the afternoon, the coach journey to the venue of the Europa League clash. The familiar routines were working again.

“Hey, sit down!”

Even the media entrance reflected the unique atmosphere of the Ibrox Stadium: Beyond large, creaking wooden doors was the press conference room. The video colleagues filmed the arrival of the Werkself from a wooden staircase in the foyer, which looked more like a venerable hotel than a football stadium. The doorman… or rather the Rangers member of staff greeted visitors in the perfect British manner: “Welcome to Ibrox”. The charm of the Rangers venue and the associated decades of football tradition was palpable in every nook and cranny and the subject of coronavirus was forgotten for a short while.

We made our way to the press box 30 minutes before kick-off. While they are separated from the fans to a certain extent in German grounds, the spectators at Ibrox were almost able to read what we were typing on our laptops on the wooden tables. How it feels if hardened Rangers fans were unable to see their players for even a few seconds, was experienced by the Werkself Radio colleagues. “Hey, sit down!” was one of the more polite comments to the standing commentators who quickly sat down after that. “Welcome to Ibrox…”

 

2020312_NB_B04_gegen_Glasgow_Rangers_76156.jpg
Cedric Pick (l.) and Niko Hartmann commentated for Werkself Radio live from Ibrox.

Havertz silences Ibrox

The great atmosphere, talked about again and again in the run-up to the game, was evident for the first time when the two teams appeared. It felt like there was not a single fan at Ibrox who was not shouting for their lives to give the team coached by Steven Gerrard a final motivational boost. But the Werkself kept their cool and relied on their ability on the pitch. The piercing chorus of whistles when Kai Havertz stepped up to take the penalty on 37 minutes made your ears ache – but it did not appear to trouble him at all. Slotted into the bottom-left corner of the net – “You’re welcome!”

The clipped shot from 15 yards out by Charly Aránguiz to make it 2-0 just after the hour mark briefly kept Ibrox quiet. But, when Edmundson moved up field to score from a corner for 2-1, all the Rangers fans really got behind their team again. You could understand why this team is so hard to beat at home – ahead of the game, ‘The Gers’ were unbeaten in front of their own fans in 17 European games.

 

 

crop_2020312_NB_B04_gegen_Glasgow_Rangers_0311.jpg

Corona hits back

Leon Bailey did not seem to be aware of that information on 88 minutes. He left his opponents stranded in the penalty area and put the ball in the back of the net for the final scoreline of 3-1. Ibrox fell silent, the Leverkusen support celebrated. But when the players wanted to climb over the advertising hoardings to celebrate with the fans, corona hit back: Havertz and Co. were not allowed to get closer to the supporters than six feet because of the possibility of infection.

Tah: Health is more important

And it was also clear in the Mixed Zone that the 90 minutes had transported everybody away from the every day but the pandemic and the associated preventive measures made a quick reappearance. The Rangers players did not go through the interview area; Bayer 04 picked out two players to answer questions from the media from six feet away. Firstly about the match and then to a greater extent about the virus. And Jonathan Tah sent everybody away into the night with the following words. Asked about the possibility of the Europa League campaign being suspended, the 24-year-old responded: “If it helps people, then we’re fully behind it. As it’s not about titles but about health. That’s more important. We all see it like that.”

 

2020312_NB_B04_gegen_Glasgow_Rangers_76202.jpg
The Werkself celebrate the 3-1 win at Ibrox with their fans.

Related News

Rudi Vollborn
Bayer 04 - 01.07.2025

Rudi recounts…: Vollborn's July highlights

Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…

Show more
Fanwelt
Fans - 30.06.2025

Fanwelt closed on 30 June

To all Bayer 04 fans: The Fanwelt will be closed all day next Monday 30 June. This is due to preparations for the change of kit supplier from Castore to New Balance on Tuesday 1 July.

Show more
Julie Jorde
Women - 28.06.2025

Julie Jorde makes permanent move to Brøndby IF

The Norway U23 international Julie Jorde has completed the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Brøndby IF. The twelve-time champions of Denmark have signed the midfielder on permanent terms after her loan move from the Bundesliga to Denmark in the winter.

Show more
Bayer 04
Bayer 04 - 28.06.2025

Not the first time at the BayArena: Profile of Abdoulaye Faye

It is almost two years since Bayer 04 new signing Abdoulaye Faye first stepped foot into the BayArena as a player for the Swedish club BK Häcken in the opening match in the 2023/24 Europa League campaign. A day before his nineteenth birthday, the central defender did not play in the 4-0 win for the Werkself but it was "an incredible night" for him on 21 September 2023 as he explained in his first interview on bayer04.de. "I watched the players and saw the fans. I liked it." It was also the first European night early on in his career. He only joined the then champions of Sweden in the cold north of Europe from his home in Senegal a few weeks before that special moment. Bayer04.de profiles our new defender.

Show more
Abdoulaye Faye wechselt zu Bayer 04 | Erstes Interview
Werkself-TV - 27.06.2025

Faye: ‘Bayer 04 are the best team for my development’

Welcome, Abdoulaye Faye. The 20-year-old Senegalese central defender joins Leverkusen from top-flight Swedish club BK Häcken. In his first interview he talks about his move to Bayer 04 and his targets with the Werkself.

Show more