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"We've come back well from the break. I've felt a good energy in training this week. The lads are feeling great and we're ready for the next phase and, of course, the game tomorrow. Taking three points on Saturday would be ideal," said Kasper Hjulmand at the start of the press conference.
Hjulmand rates VfB Stuttgart, who have always had close and hard-fought duels with Bayer 04 in the recent past, as a "top team". "It will be a special game. Both teams play on the front foot with a lot of pressing and lots of ideas. VfB are a great team with a great coach. We're really looking forward to it and I love these games against top teams. They offer the opportunity to gain some breathing space in the table if we win and, above all, they're an excellent opportunity to learn something. We can see where we are and where we need to improve."
Speaking of improvement: When asked whether the team could still improve, Hjulmand said: "We can always improve. I still see great potential. It's not easy to set new tactical directions with such a tight schedule, but this team can definitely take further steps forward. Some players will be returning, which will increase the competition even more and that’s good for the team."
Some of the squad about to return include players involved with the AFCON tournament. While Ibrahim Maza, Christian Kofane and Eliesse Ben Seghir are involved in the quarter-finals, Edmond Tapsoba was knocked out in the Round of 16 and he is set to return to the Werkself soon. However, he will not be involved in the Stuttgart game. "It's a difficult issue. The players have not had any rest, which is also mentally exhausting. It's important to pay attention to how they feel physically and mentally after the tournament. Eddy will now have a bit of a break and time to be with his family. He'll be back next week."
Exequiel Palacios is also unavailable. However, Loïc Badé, Ernest Poku and Alejandro Grimaldo are ready for action.
A few tickets for the match are still available from returns on the Bayer 04 ticket exchange. Last-minute bookings can be made HERE to secure them. Werkself Radio and the live text update service on bayer04.de and the Bayer04 app are also available in 2026.
Three of the Werkself's next four matches in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga are at home at the Ulrich Haberland Stadium. All fans now have the opportunity to purchase tickets for the upcoming home games. The clash with newly promoted FC Nürnberg is followed two weeks later by the derby against FC Köln on Carnival Friday. Nine days later, Leverkusen will host TSG Hoffenheim. The latest information on match ticket sales at a glance.
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Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed the Spaniard Gerard Roca as Head of Coaching/Methodology for the U16 to U19 youth teams. The 31-year-old most recently worked as coordinator of the Catalan national football teams and was previously instrumental in the successful youth development at the Spanish club CF Damm.
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Video game producer Electronic Arts (EA) has announced the nominees for the Men's and Women's Team of the Year (TOTY) for EA Sports FC 26. With Patrik Schick and Alejandro Grimaldo for the men and Vanessa Fudalla for the women, there are three Bayer 04 players included. Fans of the Black-and-Reds can vote for each top XI of 2025 from now until 18:59 CET on Monday 12 January.
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Four Bayer 04 players are in action at the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations being played in Morocco from 21 December to 18 January 2026: Eliesse Ben Seghir for the hosts, Edmond Tapsoba with Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Maza for Algeria and Christian Kofane with Cameroon. Updates on the AFCON matches involving Werkself players...
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