Back
2.02.2024Werkself-TV

Alonso ahead of #SVDB04: ‘Great respect for the coach and the spirit of the team’

The league leaders entertain the team bottom of the table: SV Darmstadt 98 face Bayer 04 at the BayArena on Saturday 3 February (kick-off: 15.30 CET/live on Sky and on Werkself Radio) on Bundesliga Matchday 20. Ahead of the game, head coach Xabi Alonso sounded a warning about the battling approach of the newly promoted team currently involved in a relegation battle.

Display videos

Yes, I'd like to see videos dispalyed.

"The position in the table is irrelevant to us. Anything is possible in football," said Alonso at the start of the pre-match press conference on Friday afternoon. The Spaniard sees Darmstadt as a team who "play with passion, fighting spirit and good motivation." Alonso will prepare his team for an intense encounter: "We have to control this emotional part of the game well. I've played at that stadium. There's always a good atmosphere there. Darmstadt are currently fighting very hard to avoid relegation. I have great respect for the coach and the spirit of the team."

Alonso: "great to have more options again"

The Werkself, who will complete the final pre-match training session on Friday afternoon, will then set off for Darmstadt. For the match against the Lilies, Alonso will again be able to call on Edmond Tapsoba and Amine Adli who have returned from the Africa Cup of Nations. Both went out of AFCON this week at the Round of 16 stage and they were back in Leverkusen on Thursday. The Spaniard refused to say whether the two Werkself players would feature against Darmstadt: "They've come back in good shape and are fit. They know situations like this. They will train with us again for the first time. For us it's really great to have more options again."

Alonso also kept his cards close to his chest with regard to other players who might find a place in the starting line-up. The head coach said of the winter signing Borja Iglesias: "He is fit and a good player with brilliant motivation. That's very important to us." On Granit Xhaka , who is currently on four yellow cards, Alonso said: “We'll see if he plays. We definitely have enough players to make that decision. Everybody's well prepared."

Alonso on Palacios: "want to take it at right pace"

Alonso will have to manage without Odilon Kossounou, who is still at AFCON, plus the injured players Victor Boniface, Arthur and Exequiel Palacios. In response to a question about the fitness of the Argentinian World Cup winner, Alonso said: "He's doing better. We are hoping for a quick recovery but we want to take it at the right pace and not be too hasty. We will watch his progress day by day. We remain positive."

1,700 Bayer 04 fans will support the Werkself in Darmstadt. The allocation has been sold out. There will be no away ticket office at the game.

Related News

Kurzpässe vor #B04KOE
Bundesliga - 13.12.2025

Matchday news #B04KOE: ‘We’ll give our all’ against energetic FC Köln team

Bayer 04 host 1. FC Köln at the BayArena in the final home game of 2025 . Today’s match on Saturday, 13 December kicks off at 18:30.30 pm. The Werkself are looking for three points against 1. FC Köln, who are without a win in four games but they do have a shooting star in their ranks up front. The Bayer 04 Volunteering Award will be presented at the derby against the club from Cologne and another fan club will be honoured for many years of loyalty under the Cross. The matchday news.

Show more
U23-Frauen von Bayer 04
Women - 13.12.2025

Bayer 04 recognised as DFB talent support centre for women

The German Football Association (DFB) has officially recognised Bayer 04 as a women’s talent support centre. As announced by the DFB, 1 FC Köln, Union Berlin, RB Leipzig and Hamburger SV are also certified as performance or talent support centres from 1 January 2026 in addition to the Werkself.

Show more
Zu wenig Torgefahr: Frauen verlieren Top-Spiel in Bremen | 13. Spieltag
Werkself-TV - 12.12.2025

Women: TV-highlights of 0-1 loss at Werder Bremen

Werkself-TV shows the highlights of the Bayer 04 women's 0-1 loss at Werder Bremen on the 13th matchday of the Google Pixel Frauen-Bundesliga 2025/26.

Show more
Katharina Piljic am Ball
Women - 12.12.2025

Toothless Women lose key clash in Bremen

Bayer 04 Women suffered a setback at the halfway point of the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. In a battle of the chasing pack between the teams in third and fourth, coach Roberto Pätzold's side lost 1-0 at SV Werder Bremen in a physical contest. The result leaves the Werkself on 22 points after 13 matchdays and now four points behind Bremen.

Show more
Auslosung UEFA Youth League
U19 - 12.12.2025

Youth League: U19s away to Villarreal in last 16

The Bayer 04 U19s will face Villarreal CF in Spain in the 2025/26 UEFA Youth League round of 16. That was the result of the draw made at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland on Friday afternoon.

Show more