Hard work for the new season was the order of the day on the third floor in the West Stand: 19 members of next season's U19 squad underwent thorough investigations and tests carried out by the fitness and physio team in the Werkstatt, the Bayer 04 rehab and training centre.
The oldest youth team under the Bayer Cross completed the diagnostic tests over the course of the day in groups of two and three. An electrocardiogram at rest, as a basic medical check, was at the start. That was followed by a workout on the training area at the Werkstatt with motivational music. That was followed by several drills to measure hip strength before functional ability was assessed using the FMS as well as Y-balance tests, two diagnostic procedures that used different parameters to measure coordination, mobility and stability with the help of a standardised succession of movements. The young players ended the tests on the treadmill with spiroergometry assessing their stamina levels.
In a repeat of last year, the performance checks for the U19 players were carried out ahead of the four-week summer break. "This means we can get straight into training and we need less time to get up to speed," said head coach Sven Hübscher. "We can also design the training plans for the lads on a more individual basis according to their current performance levels." At the same time, it is important his charges use the first two weeks of the summer break to recover so that they are able to recharge their batteries ahead of the forthcoming season.
In the final week of training there is a friendly on the agenda in addition to the performance tests. The Hübscher team play PSV Düsseldorf on Thursday 9 June. The game at the Kurtekotten Performance Centre kicks off at 19.30 CEST. The final full training session is on Wednesday while all the players will complete a final health check with the Werkself physios on Friday. The return to training for the new season is set for 11 July.
The long-standing successful collaboration between Bayer 04 and the transport service provider wupsi GmbH has been expanded: From January 2026, 100 wupsi bikes with Bayer 04 branding will be available for hire throughout the city of Leverkusen. They will complement the many existing offers and services that provide key support, especially for fans travelling to and from home matches at the BayArena.
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Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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After a two-week winter break, the Werkself resume training on Sunday, 4 January. The first session in 2026 at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium starts at 11:00 and is open to fans. Bayer 04 look forward to welcoming supporters at the start of 2026. The Werkself schedule for the new year.
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After being nominated for the Bundesliga Goal of the Year 2025, Martin Terrier's wonderful strike for the opener against FC Köln is now also up for selection for the ARD Sportschau Goal of the Month award for December 2025. Bayer 04 fans have until 19:00 CET on 10 January to vote for the French forward.
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