Fan club meeting: Ten Hag, Lomb, Maza and Co. in relaxed discussion

Director of professional teams Thomas Eichin said: "The team is currently going through a rebuild. Processes like that happen at clubs from time to time. We are trying to implement it as best as possible and we have brought in a new coach and lots of new players with great potential. We are confident we will experience another successful phase, win games and qualify for the Champions League again."

Ten Hag: "play my part in the enxt step"

Head coach Erik ten Hag added: "We want to start the new era. The last few years were wonderful and the club has achieved great things. Now a number of players have gone but the club, structures and the staff here are the same. You can't forget that. We want to take the next step and I want to play my part."

The Dutchman said about his new team: "We have a good squad consisting of experienced and young players. My wish is for them coming to training every day full of joy and energy. The sessions should always stretch the players but also be fun for them at the same time. Our experienced players are very important as they keep the standards high and let the lads feel the mentality and winning culture that exists here."

Goalkeeper Niklas Lomb, who joined Bayer 04 in 2008 as a youth player, talked about what the club means to him: "I've spent more than half my life here and experienced a lot over that time. Bayer 04 is family for me." On the squad with lots of new faces, he said: "We are still solid as a team. Of course, new players have to settle in but we've never had problems integrating new signings at Bayer 04."

Maza on Fans: "provide the support and passion"

New signing Ibrahim Maza said: "I'm really looking forward to my time here and, of course, I hope the fans will back us. They provide the support and the passion for us." Lomb grabbed the microphone again and added: "The support of the last few years was crazy. Both at home and away. That always gave us a boost and we'll be happy if it continues like that."

Eichin on "impressive development" of the Bayer 04 women

In conclusion, Eichin, also responsible for the Bayer 04 Women's section in his role as director of professional teams, plus Women's team head coach Roberto Pätzold and the players Kristin Kögel and Carlotta Wamser were on the stage. Eichin: "Women's football has now become a passion for me. The team has made an impressive development. A few years ago they were mid-table and sometimes involved in relegation battles. Now they are one of the top teams in the league. I'm convinced that will be the case in the coming years too."

Pätzold, whose team beat the Belgian club KVC Westerlo 3-0 in the afternoon, added: "After the first part of our pre-season and the following two-week break, we have continued training this week and successfully played a friendly. We've worked hard in this preseason and are confident we will be a tough opponent in the league in the new campaign."

Kögel, at Bayer 04 since 2020, talked about her best moments on and off the pitch: "Away from games it's often the little moments. For example, at the season launch there were a lot of fans who stopped at our autograph stand and were interested in us. That was really great. On the pitch, it's obviously the games with lots of supporters as in the home game against Bayern last season. That gives you additional energy."

New signing Wamser explained her reasons for signing for Bayer 04: "Leverkusen have developed brilliantly and are playing attractive and aggressive football. I really like that. I've been well received and I feel good. I'm really looking forward to the new season." In addition, the 21-year-old Germany international talked about her part in the European Championships in Switzerland in July where Wamser and Co. reached the semi-finals: "Everything went really quickly at the Euros. There are lots of training sessions and lots of games. I took it all in and had loads of fun. It was also great that the stadiums were always full."

Pätzold and Kögel on support in women's football

Pätzold and Kögel then appealed to the fans again: "Of course, we will be pleased with a similar level of support as at the Euros," said Pätzold. "The quality in depth is much higher in women's football," added the 46-year-old. And Kögel: "I again and again see that the fans appreciate how close we are to them. I think that’s something special. In addition, I think our mentality and our passion on the pitch are reasons enough to come and watch one or two games."

finale in the beer garden

After the meeting at the BayArena, the fans present made their way to the beer garden at the piazza on the stadium concourse. There was an enjoyable end to the evening with cold drinks and hot food.