Ahead of his first competitive match as coach of the Leverkusen Women's team, Pätzold is confident his players can confirm the positive impressions from the preseason in the Google Pixel Women's Bundesliga. "The anticipation is massive: On the one hand, I'm very much looking forward to being on the touchline again under competitive conditions and, on the other, also letting the girls loose on the league," said the 45-year-old: "We've had a very long preseason, we have developed well and the friendlies have given us the desire to turn our performances into points."
With the wins at Borussia Mönchengladbach (8-1), Czarni Sosnowiec (5-1), RSC Anderlecht (3-2), Standard Liege (4-0) and at home to Fortuna Sittard (4-0) the new Werkself team has made a promising start. "We had to deal with lots of different ways of playing, in part without knowing the basic organisation," said Pätzold: "We had more physical demands rather than in terms of football. Now we have the feeling of being prepared for lots of situations that could turn up over the course of the season."
The departures of Senß, Caroline Siems, Verena Wieder (both to Werder Bremen), Sylwia Matysik (FC Köln), Nikola Karczewska (end of loan), Cecilie Johansen (Aarhus GF) and Clara Fröhlich (FC Nürnberg) are balanced by six new signings: Caroline Kehrer (from SC Braga), Cornelia Kramer (HB Køge), Vanessa Haim (FC Nürnberg), Katharina Piljic (SGS Essen), Juliette Vidal (Anderlecht) and Shen Menglu (Celtic) are new to the squad, plus the loan of Karolina Lea Vilhjalmsdottir from Bayern Munich has been extended by a year and Emilie Bragstad has been signed from Munich team. Ida Daedelow from the youth set-up at Leverkusen has been given a professional contract.
The competition for places in the squad was also evident in the intensity in training ahead of the opening match. "You notice that it's louder than usual on the pitch with the players focusing on themselves but even more so on their teammates," said Pätzold: "We want to play our game on the pitch and demonstrate the mentality we showed in the friendlies. Then we will be in a good place to get a result."
Goalkeeper Repohl, who is set to play her 50th Bundesliga match for Bayer 04, will lead out the team as the new captain – a logical decision for the coach. "Her performances come first. She is our uncontested number one and is amongst the best in the league in her position. She supported us in communication and coaching very well in the friendlies," said Pätzold: "In addition to her consistent performances she is very well respected in the team. She has a lot of experience, is very approachable in the dressing room and popular person to talk to for many of the players. What she says has structure and clarity." Contact with the referee on the pitch will be the responsibility of the midfielder Kristin Kögel. In addition to Repohl and Kögel, Janou Levels, Synne Skinnes Hansen and Melissa Friedrich will also be on the new team committee.
Freiburg, who finished ninth three places behind the Werkself last season, are difficult to predict opponents according to Pätzold. "The loss of their captain has definitely affected them but that can of course give them a boost. We are expecting a very combative game particularly as Freiburg will be especially motivated in their first home game," he said: "We want to determine the tempo, keep it high and dominate in many phases the game. If we can do that then it will not only be difficult for our opponents but will also give us lots of chances." From the squad of 26 players, Friedrich (not yet match fit), Paulina Bartz (illness), Sofie Zdebel and Loreen Bender (both at U20 World Cup) are unavailable for the game in Freiburg.
Supporters, who want to support the Bayer 04 Women at the Dreisamstadion, can apply for tickets in Block A of the main stand HERE on the SC Freiburg website. Anyone wearing colours of the away team will not have access to the North Stand. The match will be broadcast live from 13.45 CET live on the streaming services MagentaSport and DAZN.
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