Robert, your time in Leverkusen is coming to an end after two years. How do you feel about leaving Bayer 04 at the end of the season?
De Pauw: “It was a very nice time, and I look back on it with a good feeling. The team has developed well, which is emphasised by the results. At the beginning of my time, the team had hardly any confidence after many defeats. We then tried to establish a clear identity. It's nice to see that this impact is recognisable.”
Which experiences do you remember the most?
De Pauw: “Derby victories are always particularly nice, and we've managed that twice this season. Last season, we managed to prevent Bayern from winning the title early with a draw. This year, we've emphasised that we can keep games open against the top teams and even win them. Bayern were still a step too far, but we at least managed a draw against Wolfsburg.”
How would you sum up the 2023/24 season?
De Pauw: “The fact that we came close to breaking Bayer 04's points record [33 points from the 2020/21 season] is a great sign. Nevertheless, we still dropped a few points, especially away from home. But every development also includes downs. The goal was always to finish in the top five, which we achieved once and just missed out on once. Nevertheless, the big gap between fourth place and the rest of the league from last year no longer exists. We can build on that in the future.”
Which players have surprised you the most during your time here?
De Pauw: “Friederike Repohl has developed really well thanks to her footballing skills and has established herself as first-choice goalkeeper. Elisa Senß came from Essen and became a senior international here. Jill Baijings made the leap to Bayern through us. Kristin Kögel has gone from being a team player to an absolute leader. Then there are young players like Sofie Zdebel, who have developed into regulars. Loreen Bender and Estrella Merino Gonzalez are also still very young and have a lot of potential. I could actually tell a separate story about each player. Some of the players in the team can still go very far.”
What do you think Bayer 04 Women can achieve in the coming years?
De Pauw: “I hope that we can get even closer to the top teams than we did this year. The foundation has been laid. Now it's up to the people in charge to build on that.”
What's next for you and your assistant coach Jessie van den Broek?
De Pauw: “There are also some options abroad and it could well be that we will work together again. Talks are ongoing and we'll have to wait and see what happens.”
And now you have more time for your daughters and your wife in the summer?
De Pauw: “I hope so. But that also depends on the discussions about the future. Until then, I want to make the most of the time with my family.”
Many thanks and all the best for the future!
Rüdiger Vollborn has been at the club for 40 years, he holds the record number of Bundesliga appearances for the club (401) and is the only Bayer 04 player to have won both the UEFA Cup (1988) and the DFB Pokal (1993). And the Berliner stayed with the Werkself after ending his impressive playing career as he worked as a goalkeeping coach for the following nine years. Vollborn now works under the Bayer Cross as a fan liaison officer and club archivist. Since February 2021, the personalised Black and Red lexicon takes Werkself fans under the heading of 'Rudi recounts...' on a brief trip through the history of Bayer 04 every month…
Show more
To all Bayer 04 fans: The Fanwelt will be closed all day next Monday 30 June. This is due to preparations for the change of kit supplier from Castore to New Balance on Tuesday 1 July.
Show more
The Norway U23 international Julie Jorde has completed the move from Bayer 04 Leverkusen to Brøndby IF. The twelve-time champions of Denmark have signed the midfielder on permanent terms after her loan move from the Bundesliga to Denmark in the winter.
Show more
It is almost two years since Bayer 04 new signing Abdoulaye Faye first stepped foot into the BayArena as a player for the Swedish club BK Häcken in the opening match in the 2023/24 Europa League campaign. A day before his nineteenth birthday, the central defender did not play in the 4-0 win for the Werkself but it was "an incredible night" for him on 21 September 2023 as he explained in his first interview on bayer04.de. "I watched the players and saw the fans. I liked it." It was also the first European night early on in his career. He only joined the then champions of Sweden in the cold north of Europe from his home in Senegal a few weeks before that special moment. Bayer04.de profiles our new defender.
Show more
Welcome, Abdoulaye Faye. The 20-year-old Senegalese central defender joins Leverkusen from top-flight Swedish club BK Häcken. In his first interview he talks about his move to Bayer 04 and his targets with the Werkself.
Show more
