With an international break coming up, the pressure on Bayer Leverkusen manager Erik ten Hag is increasing. After a summer that was buzzing with expectations due to his incoming to replace the leaving Xabi Alonso, the first few weeks of the Dutchman’s reign have been characterized by a series of poor performances and increasing negativity, which has given rise to the talk of a change in the club’s hierarchy that could happen sooner rather than later.
Leverkusen, in-fighting, are said to be irritated by an underlying problem, which is the lack of a very clear go-to-play and structure on the field that is enough. As per the leaks from Sky Sport DE, in the wake of Ten Hag’s tactics, the club head office are showing displeasure with how the staff who are supposed to be invincible in their in the German league, are giving very loose and inaccurate plays. Now, because of these and a lack of transmission between coach and team, communication with the squad, a vital cog after all the summer reshuffling, has become the issue.
All these issues would probably have a pop if not for the on-field results. Ten Hag got only one point in his first two Bundesliga matches. His team lost their first game 2-1 to Hoffenheim and most recently they had allowed Werder Bremen to equalize 3-3 after they had been leading with 3-1 and had also had a player sent off. Their only win was in a DFB Pokal match against a lower league team, a result that has hardly taken the heat off them.
Although Ten Hag who has a contract until 2027 is confident that he will reverse the tide, the quick and severe evaluation by the club suggests that they are running out of patience. The international break is probably a good time for a change, the club’s management is weighing its options. The first phase of begrudging acceptance seems over and the countdown for Ten Hag to convince the club he can do this job well is underway.
