Ten Hag on the Brink After Rocky Start at Leverkusen
Erik ten Hag’s future at Bayer Leverkusen is already hanging by a thread, and we’re only two games into the Bundesliga season. Reports out of Germany suggest that the former Manchester United manager is facing serious internal criticism, and his position could be in danger far sooner than anyone expected.
It’s been a tough beginning for Ten Hag in Germany. His very first league match in charge ended in disappointment—a 2-1 home defeat to Hoffenheim, despite Leverkusen actually taking the lead through ex-Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah. If that was bad, things only got worse in the second game. Away at Werder Bremen, Leverkusen were in control at 3-1 against ten men, but somehow let it slip, conceding twice late on and stumbling to a 3-3 draw. That collapse has left them sitting in the bottom half of the table with just a single point.
For a club that had been riding high only a short while ago, this is a dramatic shift. Remember, Xabi Alonso had guided Leverkusen to an unbeaten domestic double and a Europa League final in 2023–24. Even last season, they finished second in the Bundesliga and made it to the Champions League last sixteen before Alonso left for Real Madrid. Expectations, therefore, are sky high. And now, two games into the Ten Hag era, those expectations are already clashing with reality.
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The criticism inside the club has been described as “massive,” and what’s notable is that the hierarchy at Leverkusen hasn’t issued any statement backing their new coach. That silence has fueled speculation that the axe may fall sooner rather than later.
Ten Hag himself hasn’t helped calm the waters. Speaking after the Bremen draw, he admitted on live television that “the players aren’t ready” and that “some aren’t fit enough to play.” He stressed the need for more intensity and fitness to meet his standards, but such comments have only highlighted the disjointed feel of the squad so far.
And it’s not as if pre-season offered much encouragement either. His very first friendly was a 5-1 thrashing at the hands of Flamengo’s under-20 side. Though there were a few wins after that, inconsistency remained, and now the pressure is real.
It’s worth remembering that Ten Hag only returned to management in May after a seven-month break following his sacking at Manchester United. His time at Old Trafford brought mixed fortunes—he did win the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup, but he was dismissed after a poor start last season left United languishing in 14th place.
At Leverkusen, he was seen as a fresh start. But with the shadow of Alonso’s success looming large and results immediately going against him, the Dutchman finds himself in an all-too-familiar position: his job already under threat. Whether the club will truly make such a drastic move this early, only time will tell—but right now, it looks like Erik ten Hag’s new chapter could end almost as quickly as it began.
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