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"I'm really up for it!" said Erik ten Hag, making clear his excitement at his first Bundesliga match as head coach in the dugout. "Everything doesn't go to plan straightaway for any team in the first game of the season. But you can feel a very, very good team spirit in the dressing room and the team is coming together more and more. That's a very good foundation for the start of the season. On top of that there is a special bond between the team and the fans, which we saw last week in the DFB Pokal. That really impressed me.”
Asked about the successful preseason for TSG Hoffenheim with eight wins in eight friendlies and a goal difference of 40 to 5, plus the 4-0 victory at Hansa Rostock in the DFB Pokal, ten Hag said: "There are no easy games in the Bundesliga, that's absolutely clear. Hoffenheim are in good shape, they have a good coach and a good team. We'll have to give our all."
This summer's transfers were obviously a topic for discussion at the press conference. Asked about the many young new signings, ten Hag declared: "We still have a lot of experienced players, also in the spine of the team: Mark, Eddy, Rob, Patrik – they are all very experienced. The mix in the squad is good. And there are players who have stayed who bring a certain culture from the last few years, the culture of Bayer 04. It's exactly the same with the staff. And that's also very good."
For the Dutchman, who was previously at Manchester United and Ajax, it is not the first summer with lots of changes in personnel. Ten Hag: "Every era, every phase comes to an end at some point. Now it's time for a new successful phase. And we're all working hard on that every day, including the people in the background."
As in the DFB Pokal tie, Exequiel Palacios, Jonas Hofmann, Martin Terrier, Jeanuel Belocian and Malik Tillman are ruled out for the TSG game. New signing Loïc Badé will very probably not be an option. "But it looks good for him next week. And the other players are making good progress," explained ten Hag. Claudio Echeverri is ready to play: "He is absolutely fit and a player who was born with the ball at his feet (laughs). Of course, he could play from the start."
For the Bundesliga opener at the BayArena, a few tickets are available as well as tickets via the Bayer 04 ticket exchange. Click HERE for tickets.
The Black and Reds kick off the new Bundesliga campaign today, Saturday 29 August (kick-off 15:30 CEST), away to newly promoted SV 07 Elversberg – and the Werkself will come up against a familiar face who is currently causing a stir at ‘Elv’. For an affordable and easy journey to the Saarland, the 1,600 travelling fans can still use the WERKSELFgo car-share platform. Today’s matchday news..
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The European jersey has been launched, the UEL opponents have been drawn – and anticipation for the European campaign is running high. To mark the occasion, an autograph session was held on Friday afternoon, 28 August, at the Fanwelt with current Werkself player Montrell Culbreath and official club legend Paulo Sergio.
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The Bundesliga is back. On Saturday 29 August (kick-off: 15:30 CEST), the Werkself are away to SV 07 Elversberg on matchday 1 of the new season. Ahead of the clash at the URSAPHARM Arena on Kaiserlinde, head coach Carles Martínez spoke, amongst other things, about the importance of a successful start and the motivation of the league newcomers from the Saarland.
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On Friday afternoon, it will be decided which eight of the 36 participating teams Bayer 04 will face in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League in 2026/27. At the draw in Monaco (live on UEFA.com), the Werkself will be drawn against two teams from each of the four pots, allocated according to the UEFA club coefficient. A match against an opponent from the same country is ruled out, as is facing more than two clubs from the same national association. Here’s a look at the pots and potential opponents.
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