Speaking at the press conference ahead of the Freiburg game, Heiko Herrlich shared his views on…
…possible absentees against SC Freiburg: "The players came through yesterday's game against Larnaca fit and well. As it stands today, everybody's available for Sunday (apart from long-term injuries Charles Aranguiz, Julian Baumgartlinger, Panagiotis Retsos and Joel Pohjanpalo, ed.)."
… the expected tactical approach from SC Freiburg: "They've played with three different systems this season – and they'll definitely use one of them on Sunday. I can well imagine they will want to play against us like they did at home to Schalke 04 (1-0; matchday 5, ed.) .“
…the last meeting in the Breisgau: "I'm expecting a similarly tough game as last season (0-0, ed.). SC Freiburg play a pressing game and there's a method to it – they have an absolutely passionate coach in Christian Streich and they play like that too. I'm an absolute fan of his."
…a solid defence: "In every game, we aim to defend as well as we can and keep a clean sheet. Not letting in goals is a positive sign – especially for the defence which involves, and places demands on, all the players. We didn't manage it against Larnaca yesterday but we're travelling to Freiburg with the intention of keeping a clean sheet there."
…the number of goals conceded this season: "The goals we've let in this season were mostly due to individual errors in the build-up to them. For example, if you look at the two goals we let in yesterday, the first came from a set-piece that we should have defended better – the ball was passed on and we were just too late getting to it and then the goal's conceded. The goal to make it 3-2 was simply due to a communication error between Tin Jedvaj and Mitchell Weiser and it shouldn't have happened. We definitely need to improve here and there."
…the return of Panagiotis Retsos: "We hope he can return to full training during the international break – and the same goes for Julian Baumgartlinger and Charles Aránguiz. The plan is to bring them back one-by-one but it obviously depends on whether they come through their individual training sessions."
Around 750 Leverkusen fans are expected to be at the Schwarzwald Stadium on Sunday to support the Werkself at Freiburg.
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.
Show more