Keep on going!

The hard work to start the week was made somewhat more pleasant with a win behind them and the sun in the sky. Accordingly, the players started the training week on Wednesday with plenty of energy ahead of a challenging away game against Bayer 04 Leverkusen (05.03.23, 15:30 CET). Sandro Schwarz’s men are completely focussed on this task, and after two home wins in a row, want to now also pick up a result away from home. “It’s ok to be feeling good – but it is also important to then direct our focus straight back to the difficult task ahead,” said the head coach.

With excitement and bite

The boys did this after an indoor session in the morning, with a first session of the week lasting around 90 minutes at Schenckendorffplatz. After an obstacle course consisting of obstacles and passing drills to begin with, challenging the places both physically and in footballing terms, there were rondos as well as matchplay on both smaller and larger pitches. The team began with the right mixture of excitement and bite according to the motto: Keep on going – first of all in their preparation and then in the game itself in Leverkusen. “We have a challenge ahead of us in Leverkusen which we go into with humility but also with self-confidence. We have to start the game with high concentration levels and take something home with us,” said Schwarz.

Kanga works individually

Kélian Nsona and Chidera Ejuke did not train with the team, completing rehabilitation as they work on their returns from injury. Wilfried Kanga worked individually with the ball, while Márton Dárdai, who missed out at short notice against Augsburg due to a back injury, and Marc Kempf, who was forced off with a knock, both returned to action. Oliver Christensen ended training a few minutes early as he managed his workload.

The remaining training sessions of the week will take place behind closed doors. “We’ve stabilised our performances and the two home wins have done us good, but now we need to keep this exact mindset,” said head coach Schwarz, who wants to take something away from the Leverkusen game this weekend in order to kick off next week of training on the back of another positive result.