Bayer Leverkusen

[Oliver_Kahn]

Full name: TSV Bayer 04 Leverkusen e. V., Bayer 04 Leverkusen Fußball GmbH (Football)

Nickname(s):
- Werkself ("Factory Squad")

Founded: 1904

Stadium:
LTU Arena, Düsseldorf (temporary)
BayArena, Leverkusen (Capacity 22,500) (permanent)

Club's official website: Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Chairman: Wolfgang Holzhäuser
Manager: Bruno Labbadia
League: Bundesliga

Honours:

German Cup:
1993

UEFA Cup:
1988

Bundesliga runners-up:
1997, 1999, 2000, 2002

UEFA Champions League finalist: 2002

[Oliver_Kahn]

Despite offers from England, Swiss international Tranquillo Barnetta not only stays at Bayer Leverkusen, he also extended his contract.


Barnetta extended his current contract for two more years. It now runs until 2010, Leverkusen's press spokesman Ulrich Dost confirmed to bundesliga.de.

"Tranquillo is an important part of our plans, and he will get even better", Bayer sporting director Rudi Völler said. Völler had already offered Barnetta a contract extension after his good performances in the World Cup 2006.

West Ham bid rejected

English Premier League club West Ham United are said to have put in a bid over seven million euros for Barnetta, which was rejected by Bayer.

"I know that West Ham were interested in me, but I didn't bother, although England is very appealing to me. But at the moment I'm better off in Leverkusen", Barnetta said.


-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A very talented player, I'm glad he wants to remain in the Bundesliga.

[Oliver_Kahn]

bundesliga.de met up with Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Hans-Jörg Butt to speak about the present situation and the match against his former club.


bundesliga.de: Why is Bayer so inconsistent?

Hans-Jörg Butt: There are various reasons. After the two wins over Sion (3-1) and Schalke (3-1), there was a certain over-confidence that we have to fight with all our might. Everyone has to realize that we need to go with into a match 100 percent concentration. We mustn't rest on our laurels. That absolutely didn't work in Stuttgart (0-3). We have often proved what we are capable of. Therefore it's even more absurd that we can't put a long run of good performances together.

bundesliga.de: Bayer lost goalgetter Dimitar Berbatov to Tottenham in the summer. Is Bayer's current squad better or worse?

Butt: There's no need to discuss arrivals or departures. Our team is strong enough, we've already shown that this season. Consistency is our problem. You have to be at your best in 80 or 90 percent of the matches to have success in the Bundesliga. And that's simply what we're not managing to do. We are at 40 or 50 percent at the moment, and that is not enough to have permanent success.

bundesliga.de: Bayer was involved in the fight against relegation in the first half of last season. Do you think something similar could happen this year?

Butt: You just need to look at the table: we have eight points to show from seven matches. If we carry on like that, that's not even 40 points at the end of the season. Then you know that it could be a difficult season.

bundesliga.de: Is a part of Bayer's inconsistency down to young players in key roles, like Stefan Kießling (22 years), Gonzalo Castro (19), Tranquillo Barnetta (21) or Simon Rolfes (24)?

Butt: No, certainly not. These players - with the exception of summer signing Kießling - all played consistently on a high level in the second half of last season and helped securing fifth spot. We've got a good blend between very experienced and young, talented players.

bundesliga.de: On Sunday Bayer host your former club Hamburger SV. A special match for you?

Butt: I've joined Bayer in 2001, and I've played quite a few times against the HSV since. But it is still something special. I had a great time there, and I still have many connections to Hamburg.

bundesliga.de: Which match between Bayer and Hamburg is still fresh in your mind?

Butt: I always like to think back to the last match which we won 2-0 away. That was an important match to clinch UEFA Cup qualification. I would be very pleased if Sunday's match finished with the same result, of course.

bundesliga.de: What do you make of the current situation in Hamburg? Will that make the match even more difficult?

Butt: I would prefer to play the HSV at another time. They are under real pressure to get out of the relegation zone. It's going to be tough for us.

bundesliga.de: You must be following the ongoing discussions about the goalkeepers behind Jens Lehmann in the German national team. Do you still have ambitions yourself?

Butt: Of course! That subject is not ticked off yet. I have played on a high level consistently in the last years. I've nearly always played in Europe, often in the Champions League. Therefore I'll do anything to play for the national team again. I'm trying to call attention to myself with good performances. Of course I hope to be noticed and to get another chance.

bundesliga.de: Who do you consider your main rivals for the place behind Lehmann?

Butt: I certainly don't need to hide behind anyone.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Leverkusen lost 3-2 at home after being 2-1 ahead at the 80th min.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Bayer Leverkusen will still have to make do without German international Bernd Schneider in Saturday's match at 1. FC Nürnberg (15:30 CET).


Schneider, who had already missed out on Germany's Euro 2008 qualifier against Cyprus (1-1), is still sidelined with muscular problems.

However, Gonzalo Castro has overcome a shoulder injury and is back in the squad.

Ramelow doubtful

Captain Carsten Ramelow is still doubtful. He had to cut short Thursday's training session with muscular problems.

Roque Junior won't be back before the second half of the season. The Brazilian is currently in his home country to overcome a hamstring inflammation.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Leverkusen lost 3-2 to Nurenberg away, Madouni the star with 2 goals for Leverkusen.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Leverkusen lost at home 1-0 for the Uefa Cup against Tottenham

[Oliver_Kahn]

Bayer Leverkusen will have to do without midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta in their match against Energie Cottbus on Sunday (18:00 CET).


The Swiss international suffered a bruised right ankle in the UEFA Cup defeat to Tottenham Hotspur on Thursday.

Babic returns

Barnetta will have an additional MRI to rule a more significant injury.

On the other hand, Marko Babic will return for Bayer after overcoming a calf injury.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Bayer Leverkusen chief executive Wolfgang Holzhauser has slammed his team following their disappointing Uefa Cup defeat against Tottenham.

Holzhauser refused to blame coach Michael Skibbe for Bayer's poor showing which has left them struggling to reach the knockout stages of the competition.

"I haven't changed my mind. It is not always the conductor who's to blame if the orchestra plays badly," he commented.

"Of course we are not happy (about the loss), but it's always us who have to justify things when others don't perform as they should."

Holzhauser added that he will be having serious words with the Bayer squad ahead of Sunday's Bundesliga clash with Cottbus.

"Some players have to realise that football is not all about pretty passing movements and tricks, but it's about being able to fight and not being afraid to go into one-on-one situations," he said.

Skibbe did not pull any punches after the defeat, as he said: "We really had a bad game. We never got into the match during the first half and didn't win any tackles while we allowed Tottenham far too much space so they could run the game."

But despite their poor start, Skibbe is refusing to throw in the towel.

"Nobody in our camp is devastated and we are going to give our best for the last two games," added Skibbe.

http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?...+slams+players

[Oliver_Kahn]

He is right, Leverkusen had a pretty poor performance in the Uefa Cup match

[Oliver_Kahn]

Leverkusen won 3-1 at home against Cottbus

[Oliver_Kahn]

Leverkusen drew away against Bielefeld.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Leverkusen were 1-0 down, but were able to beat Hertha 2-1 at home

[Oliver_Kahn]

Croatian Josip Tadic, with Bayer 04 Leverkusen since 2005, joins NK Zagreb on January 1st 2007.


The 19 year old striker signed a contract over four and a half years with the Croatians and will leave Bayer for an undisclosed fee.

Bayer, however, have an option to reclaim Tadic.