
Monday and Tuesday involved the obligatory performance tests at the BayArena; the players were tested on the speed court, at the Werkstatt and in the stadium for speed, balance and the capacity of their cardiovascular systems. The first full training session took place on Wednesday evening with familiar and eleven new faces. With the exception of Pauline Wimmer, who successfully underwent the second of two operations on her torn cruciate on Wednesday, and Nicole Banecki, who was absent through illness, Feifel had all his players available for the opening session.
The first challenge comes on Sunday morning, 9 August: In an internal friendly against the Bayer 04 Women's second team, Feifel is looking to get a first impression of his team after the summer break. A week later (16 August), the Werkself Women have another friendly against relegated FC Köln. The Feifel group then have a one-week training camp in the Westerwald from 17 to 23 August before a final friendly ahead of the opening league fixture (Sunday, 6 September, 14.00 CET at SC Freiburg). A visit to the Dutch champions PSV Eindhoven is on the cards. All friendlies are played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Photos from first training session:










Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and Bayer 04 loanee Francis Onyeka are part of Germany's final squad for the U19 European Championships this summer. The tournament is in Wales from 24 June to 12 July.
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Carles Martìnez is raring to go. The 42-year-old speaks in his first interview in Leverkusen about the club's development to date and how he wants to build on it. He describes his previous work in France, Kuwait, Qatar and his native Barcelona, his experience in developing young players, and the key steps between now and the start of pre-season training.
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New Bayer 04 head coach Carles Martínez has arrived in Leverkusen! At midday on Friday, the 42-year-old spoke in a press conference at the BayArena about his philosophy and his aims. Managing director sport Simon Rolfes also discussed the reasons for appointing the former Toulouse boss.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
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Welcome to Leverkusen, Carles Martínez Novell. Bayer 04 have appointed the 42-year-old Spaniard as the new head coach on a contract to 2028. Martínez most recently worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. He previously spent four years at Barcelona's legendary academy La Masia in his home city. Bayer04.de introduces Martínez in more detail.
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