Congratulations on the contract extension, Sylwia. We are happy you're staying at Leverkusen beyond the summer. What convinced you to extend your stay at Bayer 04?
Sylwia Matysik: Bayer 04 are a big club and the facilities here are simply brilliant. I can see there are good conditions for my personal development as well as that of the team. I just feel at home here, I like the city and the quiet area where I live. I'm very much looking forward to the next two years. I'd like to thank the management and the coaching staff for the confidence they've shown in me.
You moved from Poland to Leverkusen in the summer of 2019 – what was the first year like for you?
Matysik: This is my first club abroad – taking that step was a huge experience. Everything was new to me. But I received a lot of help and the players and the coaches have been very good to me. As a team, we've had a very good season on the pitch so far. It's a pity that I was sidelined with injury for a couple of weeks (back problem, ed.) and I wasn't able to help the team. Now I'm happy to be fit again and able to play a full part in the last few games.
You said it – it's the end of season run-in. What's your assessment of this season as it stands?
Matysik: We're in fifth place with three games to play and we've got a chance of finishing fourth – and that's what we're fighting for. The team has developed very well from the start. We’ve worked a lot on technique, fitness and tactics. Each individual has made progress. There's a lot of potential in this team.
You've struggled with back problems in recent weeks; you made your comeback in the last game against Essen. How are you now and how do you deal with such long-term injuries?
Matysik: Everything is okay again with my back. I don't have any pain any more and I can do full training and play again. Injuries are never easy for players. I'm always hungry and I want to play instead of "just" having to be a fan in the stands. I'm happy when I can be on the pitch.
Your coach Achim Feifel has recently highlighted your strength in challenges and aggression on the pitch – are those your characteristics in games?
Matysik: I agree with the coach, those are my main strengths. I like to be aggressive in defence and to get stuck into one-on-one situations.
When you came here you didn't speak or understand a word of German – how are you getting on with communication now?
Matysik: I'm doing a German language course and have lessons twice a week. First I learned all the football terminology and I picked that up quickly. I can speak and understand German more and more but I'm still continuing to learn to be able to communicate better.
The Werkself conceded a goal at home for the first time since the beginning of January 67 minutes into the game against FSV Mainz 05 on Saturday. Jarell Quansah levelled late on for the final score of 1-1 to secure a point and avoid a first home defeat in six games. Bayer 04 were very critical of their performance after the game. The Werkself review.
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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…
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From special edition jerseys to fan banners, the home game against Mainz 05 was all about the many Bayer 04 fan clubs. Accordingly, a fitting tribute to the long-standing Werkself supporters was not to be missed during half-time in the Bundesliga match. Fernando Carro, CEO, honoured the up to 50-year anniversaries of six fan clubs in front of the coaches' benches at the BayArena.
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Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 1-1 draw against Mainz 05 on Matchday 24 of the 2025/26 Bundesliga season...
A late goal secured a point for Bayer 04 at home to FSV Mainz 05 in a match that saw the Black and Reds dominant in the second half. Despite lots of possession, the Werkself initially found few gaps and fell behind after 67 minutes when Sheraldo Becker scored in a Mainz counter-attack. In the closing stages, Leverkusen threw everything forward once again and equalised through Jarell Quansah (88').
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