Back
26.04.2025Werkself-TV

Alonso ahead of #B04FCA: “The fans deserve a good performance”

The first of the Werkself’s remaining 04 fixtures of this season comes on Saturday at home to Augsburg (kick-off: 3.30pm CEST). Ahead of the Matchday 31 encounter, head coach Xabi Alonso reflected on previous weeks, spoke about goals for the remainder of the campaign and also Jonathan Tah.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

“I’m not pleased with the football we’ve played in the last two weeks and hope we put in a better display tomorrow against Augsburg,” Alonso said at Friday’s press conference. “We’ve worked hard and now want to give our all again. The fans deserve a good performance.”

Alonso: “Want to have fun again”

Leverkusen are up against one of the Bundesliga’s form teams in Augsburg, who are enjoying the best season in their top-flight history with 42 points from 30 games. Their points haul for 2025 ranks them third behind Bayern Munich and Bayer 04, while they have lost only one of their last 14 matches and none at all on the road this calendar year.

Going into this game and the final three afterwards, Alonso said he wants the team to “have fun playing football again. Our feeling right now isn’t the best. We had a big objective in our minds. Now we need to create new goals. We want to end the season as well as possible.”

Alonso on Tah: “Top professional, top player, top person”

Alonso will be without Nordi Mukiele and Alejo Sarco, as well as long-term absentees Jeanuel Belocian, Martin Terrier and Mario Hermoso. All other players are fit and have “trained well,” according to the Spaniard.

When asked about central defender Tah, Alonso stated: “We need to respect his decision. He’s earned the right to decide his own future. His attitude, his professionalism and his consistency this season have been incredible. He’s been really important for me since the first day. I can only thank him for what he’s given us and the club. He’s a top professional, a top player and a top person.”

Sold-out home section – ‘Finally Red’ campaign

The home section of the BayArena is sold out for Saturday, with around 600 fans travelling from Augsburg.

Finally Red

The Nordkurve12 fan group has also created the ‘Finally Red’ campaign for the end of this season. Werkself fans should come to the stadium for both home and away matches wearing red. There will be T-shirts, stickers and other items on sale at the stadium from 12.30pm before the game tomorrow.

Related News

Lobke Loonen trifft zum 1:0
Women - 01.08.2026

Home kit debut: Women’s team win friendly against Genk

With 22 days to go until the start of the Bundesliga campaign, the Bayer 04 Women’s team have gained a fresh boost of confidence. In a friendly against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk on Saturday afternoon, coach Roberto Pätzold’s team secured a 1–0 win. Lobke Loonen (20’) scored the winner for the Black and Reds at the Kurtekotten training centre.

Show more
„Werkself des Vierteljahrhunderts“
Bayer 04 - 30.07.2026

Werkself Team of the Quarter-Century: Wirtz and Alonso top the poll – Tapsoba and Rolfes in starting XI

You have voted – your ‘Team of the Quarter-Century’ has been decided! This historic selection, covering the period from 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2024, features honorary captains, Bundesliga champions, double winners and Champions League finalists. Edmond Tapsoba is the only player from the current Bayer 04 squad to make it into the starting XI, while his team-mate Patrik Schick is on the bench. Simon Rolfes, the current managing director sport, is also in the lie-up. A truly special team that brings together a quarter of a century of Bayer 04 history – and has left a decisive mark on the club.

Show more
Malik Tillman im Training
Bayer 04 - 30.07.2026

Tillman back in Leverkusen after World Cup with the USA

Following Patrik Schick, Mark Flekken, Ibrahim Maza and Kerim Alajbegovic earlier this week, the next World Cup participant is back on the training ground in Leverkusen: On Thursday 30 July, Malik Tillman rejoined the squad, completing his first training session under head coach Carles Martínez.

Show more
Werkself beat Genk 4-0 in front of home crowd | Friendly
Werkself-TV - 29.07.2026

TV highlights of 4-0 win in friendly against KRC Genk

Werkself TV shows the highlights of the 4-0 victory in the friendly match against KRC Genk...

Show more
Werkself beim Torjubel
Bayer 04 - 29.07.2026

Werkself beat Genk 4-0 in front of home crowd

In their third friendly of this pre-season, Bayer 04 played on home soil for the first time – and won there too! The Werkself claimed a comfortable 4-0 victory against Belgian top-flight side KRC Genk at the Ulrich-Haberland-Stadion. Jeanuel Belocian (9’) and Nathan Tella (42’) gave a dominant Leverkusen a 2-0 lead at the break, which Afonso Moreira (51’) and Christian Kofane (53’) doubled after the break. Among the many second-half substitutions was Patrik Schick, who made his first friendly appearance of the summer.

Show more