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"We have the chance of reaching the semi-finals. Of course, there is great anticipation. We are very motivated," declared Xabi Alonso at the pre-match press conference on Monday afternoon. "Tomorrow we want to be focused, intelligent and play with quality and to win we need our best performance and the support of our fans."
The Spaniard was keen to totally blank out the forthcoming Bundesliga big match against Bayern Munich in four days time. "Our focus is now on the next game. That's always the most important thing," said Alonso who does not feel any additional pressure in relation to the clashes with Stuttgart and Bayern. "There's always pressure in professional football. And that's before every game regardless of the opponents and the competition."
On the opponents from Stuttgart, who are currently third in the league, Alonso said: "I like the way they play. Intelligent and flexible. They absolutely deserve to be where they are in the table." The last league match between Bayer 04 and VfB Stuttgart in December of last year ended all square at 1-1. "It was a very intense game. We can learn something from that game and apply it."
In terms of personnel, nobody is ruled out after the physical league encounter in Darmstadt (2-0). Also, Edmond Tapsoba and Amine Adli are ready to play on Tuesday evening following their return from AFCON. In contrast, the cup tie comes too early for Exequiel Palacios even though Alonso believes the Argentinian is "progressing well."
The head coach is giving another start to goalkeeper Matej Kovar who played in the previous two DFB-Pokal ties. Alonso on the Czech keeper: "He showed his great potential last season at Sparta Prague and was impressive here in training from the start. On top of that are his good performances in the DFB-Pokal and the Europa League. He's earned the chance to play again tomorrow."
The DFB-Pokal quarter-final is being shown on the pay-TV broadcaster Sky and on the terrestrial TV channel ARD. Coverage from the BayArena starts on both channels at 20.15 CET. As usual, Werkself Radio will be covering the game from 15 minutes before kick-off.
The Colombian midfielder Gustavo Puerta is set to join Hull City on permanent terms from 1 July. Bayer 04 Leverkusen and the Championship club originally agreed a season-long loan in the summer with an option to buy included in the contract. A permanent move to Hull City has been triggered by the number of league appearances Puerta has made this term.
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FC St. Pauli are on course to achieve their target for the season. The win away to Holstein Kiel last weekend saw the newcomers from the Hanseatic city take a big step forward in terms of staying up. This Easter Sunday, 20 April (kick-off: 19:30 CEST), the team currently fifteenth in the Bundesliga entertain the Werkself at the Millerntor. And they will have to manage without their captain Jackson Irvine for the first time this season. The lowdown on our next opponents.
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The Werkself are away to FC St. Pauli on Bundesliga Matchday 30. The game is on Sunday, 20 April (kick-off: 19:30 CEST). The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team brings you the latest information on the fixture at the Millerntor Stadium…
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The Easter holidays enticed a large number of Bayer 04 fans to come to the training ground at the BayArena, today Wednesday 16 April, to watch the Werkself at an open training session in the afternoon. Afterwards, the players and head coach Xabi Alonso took time out to sign autographs and pose for photographs. And there was a lot going on besides: While midfield maestro Granit Xhaka fielded questions at an entertaining children's press conference, including the story behind his squad number 34, Nathan Tella faced the media.
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