Back
7.12.2024Werkself-TV

Alonso ahead of #B04STP: “Play in a creative and clinical way”

Bayer 04 take on St. Pauli in the Bundesliga for the first time in 13 years in front of a sold-out BayArena crowd on Saturday (kick-off: 3.30pm CET). Ahead of the game, head coach Xabi Alonso spoke about Pauli’s “structure and dynamic”, as well as options in attack in the absence of Patrik Schick and the final run to the end of the year.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

“We want the next win tomorrow,” Alonso said at his press conference on Friday. The Werkself have won their last four in a row across all competitions, but the Spaniard is now expecting to face an opponent with “good understanding of their play and a good structure. They’re dynamic in their tactics and formation. We’re expecting a well-drilled opponent. That’s why we need to play in a creative and clinical way, to play our own game.”

“Several options” in Schick’s absence

When asked for a fitness update, Alonso confirmed that Schick won’t be available after suffering a calf issue in Tuesday’s 1-0 win at Bayern Munich. “Maybe he’ll be back for Tuesday,” the 43-year-old stated. “But we’ve got several options for who starts up front tomorrow. That could be Nathan [Tella], Flo [Wirtz], Martin [Terrier]. We’ll see. Players being out is annoying, but it always presents new chances and opportunities. We’ll accept the situation and have a solution.”

Alonso also said of Tella: “The goal against Bayern was a relief for all of us and also Nathan personally. He’s an important player for us, has always had a big impact from the bench.”

The position of goalkeeper was also discussed at the press conference. “We’ve also got healthy competition in goal. Lukas [Hradecky] and Matej [Kovar] are both very important, just like Lombo [Niklas Lomb]. The most important thing is they’re all in good form. We can rely on all of them.”

“Good feeling” going into final four games before Christmas

Following this game at home to St. Pauli there’s then next week’s UEFA Champions League encounter with Inter Milan at the BayArena before a Bundesliga visit to Augsburg and then a home fixture with Freiburg. Going into the final four games of the year, Alonso appeared confident: “We want to build on the most recent performances and results. We’ve got a good feeling.”

Related News

Bayer 04 Women suffer narrow defeat to Wolfsburg | 2nd matchday
Werkself-TV - 30.08.2026

Women: TV-highlights of 1-2 loss against VfL Wolfsburg

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 1-2 loss against VfL Wolfsburg on the 2nd matchday of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga 2026/27.

Show more
Grafik_Ansetzungen_16_9.jpg
Europa League - 30.08.2026

Europa League group phase fixtures confirmed

Bayer 04’s eight opponents in the group stage of the 2026/27 UEFA Europa League have been confirmed. At the draw on Friday 28 August held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monaco, the Werkself were drawn against two opponents from each of the four pots. There are a total of four home and four away matches. Read on for details of opponents and fixture dates.

Show more
Edmond Tapsoba und Christian Kofane vor der Kurve
Bundesliga - 30.08.2026

Werkself review #ELVB04: ‘Do much, much better next week’

In the 3-2 defeat at Bundesliga newcomers SV 07 Elversberg, the Werkself found the back of the net in the closing stages and, with a bit of luck, could still have equalised. “Today, our play wasn’t good enough, particularly when it came to the basics,” said head coach Carles Martínez. Like the boss, Ibrahim Maza also wants to learn from the match and look ahead: “Next week, people should be able to see from the very first minute that we want it more than our opponents.” The Werkself review on the Bundesliga opener in 2026/27.

Show more
Werkself lose 3-2 at Elversberg despite late comeback in Bundesliga opener | 1st matchday
Werkself-TV - 29.08.2026

TV highlights of 2-3 loss at Elversberg

Werkself TV shows the highlights of Bayer 04's 2-3 loss at SV 07 Elversberg on Matchday 1 of the 2026/27 Bundesliga season...

Show more
Patrik Schick
Bundesliga - 29.08.2026

Werkself lose 3-2 at Elversberg despite late comeback in Bundesliga opener

No points to start the league campaign: Bayer 04 lost 3-2 away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg in the first Bundesliga match of the 2026/27 campaign. Two quick-fire goals from Lukas Petkov (8’) and Cole Campbell (10’) gave the hosts an early lead, before David Mokwa scored the Saarland side’s third shortly after half-time (46’). In the closing stages, the Werkself rallied and staged a late comeback with goals from Patrik Schick (77’) and Christian Kofane (90+1’), but the Black and Reds were denied an equaliser.

Show more