“Leipzig are a very good team with talented players. We’ll give it our all. It’s a home match with a great atmosphere. We hope we can celebrate together at the end,” declared coach Carles Martínez on Friday afternoon. The home sections are sold out for the match.
Ahead of the game against the team currently fifth in the table, the Spaniard is once again calling for maximum effort and said: “We need to show passion and energy every minute of the match!”
Martínez: "all pulling in the same direction"
Looking back briefly on the past few weeks, he explained: “We’re going into the match full of confidence following our midweek win. We deserved more points in the league, but that’s football. We’re continuing to work hard together as a team to improve. We’re all pulling in the same direction to achieve that. I can already see many things that please me and give me the confidence that we will be successful. It’s a process, and within that process it’s important to not only see things in black and white. The most important thing is that we establish continuity.”
Martínez also recognises the opposition have not yet reached their full potential in that respect. Two wins against Borussia Mönchengladbach (3–0) and Hamburger SV (5–0) are offset by a defeat against Werder Bremen (1–3) and an opening-day defeat in the UEFA Champions League against Italian newcomers Como 1907 (1–4). Martínez: “Leipzig have a new coach and a few new players as well. They’re currently trying to build a strong team spirit.”
"looking good" for Maza – Update on Culbreath
Guéla Doué is unavailable on Sunday due to a muscle injury. As for Ibrahim Maza, who was recently absent through illness, the coach said: “He trained today. Things are looking better. If everything continues to go well, he’ll be in the squad against Leipzig.” When asked about Patrik Schick , Martínez said: “He’s highly valued in the team and is respected. I’m very pleased with him.” On Montrell Culbreath , the Spaniard said: “He’s making good progress. The plan is still for him to train with the team after the break. And then he’ll be able to help us again.”
The international break in question lasts three weeks this time – and is therefore longer than usual. Martínez commented on this – while already looking ahead to the weeks that follow: “Of course, as a coach, you always like to have your players around. We’ll need to strike the right balance afterwards. Some players won’t have had time to catch their breath, whilst others will have. After the break, we’re in for some equally intense weeks with lots of matches.”
For now, though, all attention is on the match against Leipzig: “Three points would be brilliant, so we can go into the break feeling positive.”
Fan flea market on Family matchday – Schwadbud closed
The game against Leipzig is a family matchday. Fans can look forward to a varied programme of interactive activities for all ages. Bayer 04 are also organising a charity flea market for a good cause between entrances B3 and B4 on the east side of the BayArena. The proceeds will go to the ‘Zeitinsel’ children’s palliative care unit.
The Schwadbud will be closed all day due to an internal event.
As usual, all travelling fans can use the free car-share platform WERKSELFgo to team up with other Bayer 04 supporters and travel to the match together. Full details of the platform can be found HERE. In the run-up to the match, Bayer 04 are also conducting a survey on fan travel via scannable QR codes prominently displayed around the Piazza – including a chance to win a match shirt!
