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

crop_20261015_EL_LPOB04_MD_0206.jpg
Europa League - 15.10.2026

Follow the Werkself’s trip to Poznan ✈️🇵🇱

Bayer 04 make their first trip to Poland for over 30 years as they face Lech Poznan on Matchday 2 of the league phase in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. The game kicks off at 18:45 CEST on Thursday, but the team will be preparing for the action on Wednesday with training, travel and pre-match press conferences. We’ll bring you all the latest news here…

Show more
Patrik Schick und Co. jubeln in Posen
Europa League - 15.10.2026

4–0 at Lech Poznan – Werkself extend winning run on European stage

Bayer 04 remain unbeaten in the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League. After winning the opener against NK Celje, the Werkself followed that up on Thursday night with a 4–0 win away at the Polish champions Lech Poznan. Patrik Schick, who came on as a substitute early in the game, scored twice from the penalty spot, and Malik Tillman also found the back of the net before half-time. The second half was a more subdued affair, with Ibrahim Maza scoring late on to seal the final 4-0 scoreline.

Show more
Jan Conradi bei der Torwarttrainer-Fortbildung
Youth - 15.10.2026

Zonal defence: Goalkeeping coach training course at the BayArena

Since 2023, Bayer 04 has been organising regular free goalkeeping coach training sessions at the BayArena. As in previous years, the event attracted enormous interest in mid-October 2026. Around 140 participants – mostly goalkeeping coaches from the region, but also team and academy coaches as well as association staff – came to the Werkself stadium to gain expert knowledge on the subject of zonal marking. Through a theoretical keynote presentation and a practical session on the pitch, the participants gained insights into goalkeeping and goalkeeper training at Bayer 04.

Show more
Kurzpässe vor #LPOB04
Europa League - 15.10.2026

Matchday news #LPOB04: First-ever game against Polish champions

A first for the Werkself: Today, Thursday 15 October (kick-off: 18:45 CEST), Bayer 04 face Lech Poznan for the first time on matchday 2 in the UEFA Europa League group. Although the Black and Reds have a flawless record against the only Polish opposition faced before, they must not underestimate the attacking ability and goal-scoring threat of the reigning champions from Poznan. Lech’s squad also includes two former Bundesliga players. Today's matchday news.

Show more
Nathan Tella im Interview vor dem UEL-Auswärtsspiel gegen Lech Posen | UEL, 2. Spieltag
Werkself-TV - 14.10.2026

Tella: 'We're expecting a difficult game'

Nathan Tella spoke to Werkself-TV ahead of Bayer 04's first Europa League away game of 2026/27 at Lech Poznan about his fond memories of the competition, his expectations of the match and his excitement about the atmosphere in Poland...

Show more