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"The full focus is now on Heidenheim. We need our Bundesliga mindset again, that's of great importance as the league is the most important competition for us," explained Alonso right at the start of the press conference on Friday afternoon. As in every game, the team go into the clash with the newcomers with the highest levels of concentration and maximum respect. "Otherwise we will have problems," said the Spaniard.
The Black and Reds face FC Heidenheim on Sunday for the second time in a competitive match. For most the Werkself players, the team from Baden-Württemberg are a completely new opponent that the team and coach Alonso have to be prepared for: "They are an intense team who we will have to be ready to challenge. We can't be timid and we have to be prepared for every style of play. Heidenheim are particularly dangerous at set pieces and that is still a weakness of ours. We are continuing to work hard on that."
In addition, Alonso explained: "Heidenheim have good energy and huge desire to battle as we could see against Bremen in Dortmund. I remember their promotion match last season – that was crazy." Heidenheim turned the game around against Jahn Regensburg scoring twice in added time to go 3-2 up and thereby seal the first promotion to the Bundesliga in the club's history. "They deserved to be promoted, it wasn't luck. They have passion and play with commitment," said Alonso.
The Spaniard also praised the visitors’ coach Frank Schmidt who has now been in the dugout at Heidenheim for 16 years: "I've got great admiration for him and I look forward to getting to know him on Sunday. Being in a leading position and in such an intense job for so long is unique and not easy. I wish him and his team all the best for the season."
The Werkself can again look forward to huge support at the match against the newly promoted club: the home section is already sold out. The away ticket office will be open on the matchday.
Alonso will again have to manage without Patrick Schick, Arthur as well as Timothy Fosu-Mensah.
For the game on Sunday, Bayer 04 have again organised a traditional family matchday under the motto "Together under the Cross", presented by main sponsor Barmenia. Werkself fans can enjoy family friendly offers and a wide-ranging programme with games and entertainment in and around the BayArena.
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…
Show moreTo all Bayer 04 fans: The Fanwelt will be closed all day next Monday 30 June. This is due to preparations for the change of kit supplier from Castore to New Balance on Tuesday 1 July.
Show moreThe Norway U23 international Julie Jorde has completed the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Brøndby IF. The twelve-time champions of Denmark have signed the midfielder on permanent terms after her loan move from the Bundesliga to Denmark in the winter.
Show moreIt is almost two years since Bayer 04 new signing Abdoulaye Faye first stepped foot into the BayArena as a player for the Swedish club BK Häcken in the opening match in the 2023/24 Europa League campaign. A day before his nineteenth birthday, the central defender did not play in the 4-0 win for the Werkself but it was "an incredible night" for him on 21 September 2023 as he explained in his first interview on bayer04.de. "I watched the players and saw the fans. I liked it." It was also the first European night early on in his career. He only joined the then champions of Sweden in the cold north of Europe from his home in Senegal a few weeks before that special moment. Bayer04.de profiles our new defender.
Show moreWelcome, Abdoulaye Faye. The 20-year-old Senegalese central defender joins Leverkusen from top-flight Swedish club BK Häcken. In his first interview he talks about his move to Bayer 04 and his targets with the Werkself.
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