An inaugural match is "always something very special," said Xabi Alonso at the pre-match press conference in St. Louis on Tuesday. "We are very much looking forward to the match and feel great enthusiasm for football in this region. The community here will remember this game for a very long time."
After the first training session in St Louis at the training ground of the new MLS team on Monday, the Werkself completed the final pre-match training session on the pitch at the CITYPARK stadium. Head coach Xabi Alonso and his players were able to gain a first impression of the venue. "I'm excited by this stadium – it's not too big and not too small," said the Spaniard. "The fans will produce a great atmosphere here at the very first game. I'm sure of that."
The Werkself came on the #Bayer04USATour on the back of three wins in succession in the Bundesliga. Xabi Alonso has seen great progress in the Werkself over the past few weeks. But the 2010 World Cup winner believes his team is still a long way from their objectives. "We use every day to help the team grow. Last week with the three wins obviously did us good. But we have to improve and take the many small steps we still have in front of us."
The hosts St Louis CITY SC look forward with great excitement to their first home match in the newly built stadium. The club from Missouri have already played three friendlies in the past few weeks. According to coach John Hackworth all of those matches were "approached very professionally. Now in the last friendly before our start in the MLS we face a great team in Leverkusen."
In the clash with the Werkself, the St. Louis CITY SC team will contain experienced players like goalkeeper Roman Bürki (formerly at Borussia Dortmund) and other former Bundesliga players as well as young talents from different countries. Hackworth: "The match against such a big Bundesliga club as Leverkusen will be a great experience for our players. They will meet this challenge. A fantastic evening awaits for the players, the club club and the fans."
After Jens Nowotny was officially named a Bayer 04 honorary captain last weekend, the long-standing Werkself player is part of the Leverkusen delegation on the trophy tour to New York City next week from 11 to 14 September. In an interview with bayer04.de, the 50-year-old talked about his expectations ahead of the trip to the metropolis on the East Coast of the USA.
Show moreThe German Football League (DFL) has confirmed the dates and kick-off times for matchdays 6 to 12 of the 2024/25 Bundesliga season. Full details of the Bayer 04 fixtures.
Show moreMarkus Rehm, a long jumper at TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen, won the gold medal for the fourth time in succession at the Paralympics on Wednesday.
Show moreThe fixture details for the second round of the DFB Pokal 2024/25 have been confirmed. The home tie for Bayer 04 against second division SV 07 Elversberg is on Tuesday, 29 October with the kick off at 18.00 CET (live on Sky). That was announced by the German Football Association (DFB) on Thursday.
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