Focused and yet relaxed; that was how Korkut looked on the day before his Champions League debut in the dugout. No sign of excitement. "I experienced a lot as a player and still have good memories of the stadium," he explained in fluent Spanish with the local journalist hanging on his every word – also as Korkut talked about the position after the 4-2 defeat for the Werkself in the first leg: "We are the underdogs but we want to use every minute to turn it round."
Personnel position at Bayer 04
The new head coach will be missing several regular players. In addition to Hakan Calhanoglu (CAS ban) and suspended Benjamin Henrichs, the injured Lars Bender (ankle), Ömer Toprak (knee), Jonathan Tah (groin) and Stefan Kießling (hip) are all ruled out. In addition, the youngster Kai Havertz has remained at home as he has important exams ahead of his A-levels at the Landrat Lucas Grammar School.
Korkut is still looking for a positive result in spite of all the absentees: "We are Bayer 04 and always have a strong team. I have full confidence in every individual player." The new Werkself head coach is well aware that it won't be easy to score goals against the Atlético defence and also that it needs at least three goals on Wednesday to progress to the Champions League quarter-finals. "But we want to do all we can to achieve that and that's how we'll approach the game. And then we'll see how the game turns out."
Korkut's second clash with Simeone
He faced his opposite number Diego Simeone at the Estadio Vicente Calderon as a player in 2004. At that time, Simeone was playing for the Rojiblancos and Korkut for Espanyol. In the 2-0 win for Atlético back then, a fresh-faced Fernando Torres (El Nino) scored both goals. It remains to be seen whether he will start for Simeone on Wednesday. In a league match against La Corunna (1-1) a week and a half ago he was knocked unconscious and swallowed his tongue. This week Torres returned to full training. Filipe Luis and stalwart Gabi are both sidelined after picking up a third yellow card in the first leg.
The 2025 regular general meeting of the TSV Bayer 04 football department was once again characterised by emotional farewells to deceased members and honours for long-standing members. In addition, the Bayer 04 management and respective department heads reported on the events of the past 12 months. There were no elections this year.
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The Werkself are away to 1. FC Heidenheim 1846 on Bundesliga Matchday 28. The game is on Saturday, 5 April (kick-off: 15:30 CEST). The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team brings you the latest information on the fixture…
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Calling all girls. Have you ever dreamed of wearing the shirt with the Bayer Cross? Playing in Black and Red like your role models Kristin Kögel, Janou Levels, Friederike Repohl and Co. from the Google Pixel Women’s Bundesliga squad? Now’s your chance! Our female youth teams are looking for new talented players. So Bayer 04 is organising a Talent Day with trial training sessions for junior players on 27 April 2025.
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The next international break is coming up before the Bayer 04 Women play FC Köln in the Bundesliga in the middle of April. Eleven Leverkusen Women are on the road with their national teams again with different targets. Bayer04.de provides an overview of the international call-ups for the Werkself Women.
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There is still great frustration the day after the DFB Pokal exit: After the game in Bielefeld where the double winners were at times unable to perform to their usual standards, head coach Xabi Alonso, captain Lukas Hradecky and Co. were self-critical but they also paid Arminia Bielefeld deserved and highest respect, and wanted to turn this negative experience into energy for the remaining games in the Bundesliga. The Werkself review of the DFB Pokal semi-final.
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