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BREMEN — It is clear that Eric Ten Hag’s Bayer Leverkusen are a piece in progress. On Saturday they twice blew two-goal leads to attract 3-3 towards a 10-man Werder Bremen facet. The meltdowns tainted what ought to have been a big day for Malik Tillman, who was in a position to get his first purpose in a Leverkusen shirt on his debut throughout an awesome first half for the membership. Nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to push the workforce to victory.
After the match, a visibly annoyed Tillman relayed Ten Hag’s phrases from the dressing room.
“We performed like boys at the moment and never males. He additionally mentioned it is embarrassing how we completed the sport, so the temper wasn’t nice,” Tillman mentioned. tHe nonetheless has hope for a way issues will go following the worldwide break. “Our time will come and you will notice a unique Leverkusen.” he query is, how lengthy will it take for that Leverkusen to reach?
It is a far cry from Xabi Alonso’s workforce, which two seasons in the past received a shock Bundesliga title, who had been stoppage-time menaces clawing matches again from the demise, with the Spanish supervisor seemingly at all times in full management of issues round him earlier than departing to guide Actual Madrid throughout the summer time. These are anticipated struggles, changing an establishment of a supervisor, they usually spotlight simply how large of a job Ten Hag has in entrance of him.
Whereas the Dutch supervisor was in a position to lead Manchester United to an FA Cup title in 2024, he was dismissed within the following yr, and Leverkusen nonetheless felt that he was the proper man for the job. Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has confidence in ten Hag being the proper man attributable to his potential in growth, together with model.
“It is his potential, additionally with Ajax he labored with younger gamers, however as properly with United with some younger ones, and that we wish to play a dominant soccer, attacking soccer,” Rolfes mentioned. “He is proven particularly with Ajax, and I believe that it is key parts that we’ve got to develop and concentrate on.”
Solely time will inform if that alternative was an accurate one. United are nonetheless struggling underneath Ruben Amorim, and Leverkusen not solely have to interchange a star in Florian Wirtz, however with eight main outgoings, Leverkusen must implement a brand new system with nearly extra new faces within the dressing room than skilled ones. Prior to now, gamers like Granit Xhaka would’ve been in a position to rally the workforce to keep away from dropping a lead, however with him now at Sunderland within the Premier League, somebody must step as much as be a frontrunner on the pitch.
“[Lucas Vazquez] will assist loads, and throughout the week, it is also necessary when you’ve got position fashions, excessive skilled gamers like Lucas or, for instance, Grimaldo who’re position fashions for youthful guys to see, what do I’ve to do every single day to get higher, and this manner, Lucas will assist us loads,” Rolfes mentioned.
Bringing in gamers like Lucas Vazquez will add some expertise to the facet, however they’re going to want gamers like Tillman to develop and thrive underneath strain if this transition is to work. That progress is already taking place as he breaks down the match following the frustration of the end result.
“We’re one group and we must always stick collectively on the pitch. We have all been on this scenario earlier than, so it should not be the way in which it was,” Tillman mentioned.
Solely 23, Tillman is again in Germany the place he hung out with Greuther Furth and Bayern Munich, taking a step up from PSV Eindhoven to Leverkusen, and he is conscious of it. Wirtz’s sneakers are large ones to fill, and coming off of an damage, Saturday was the primary sport that Tillman performed for the reason that Concacaf Gold Cup, so even he is not at 100% health but.
As soon as he will get there, the American midfielder is a dynamic participant that Leverkusen can construct their assault round, however that wasn’t the problem, as in 61 minutes of motion, he made essentially the most of restricted touches, opening his account together with his new membership. He’ll wish to create extra for others, however that can come as he will get extra comfy together with his teammates.
The workforce felt complacent at occasions in protection, and that is one other space the place it is nearly a wholly new squad from Mark Flekken in purpose to Jarell Quansah and Loic Bade as a middle again pairing. Following their success underneath Alonso, expectations are excessive for this Leverkusen facet, and with how a lot change they’ve undergone, they may very well be too excessive for what can be a transition season.
“It is necessary to see that we’re shifting in the proper route. That we’re working in the proper means, and possibly you may have challenges and disappointments. That is part of the game of life. Soccer life for positive, however to do the proper issues to create this workforce, to create a powerful unit, and on the finish to have the ability to get the total potential out of the gamers and out of the squad,” Rolfes mentioned. “That is for me the necessary factor that I really feel like, okay, we’re engaged on the proper means, we’re making steps ahead. Setbacks are part of this, that is regular, l however we’ve got to maneuver on from this.”
Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have sturdy sides who will doubtless end within the Champions League locations on the finish of the season, whereas Eintracht Frankfurt are additionally contending. That leaves Leverkusen in a decent race with VfB Stuttgart, Freiburg, and, every other contenders which will emerge for a Champions League spot. Will probably be a decent race for the coveted UCL locations, and a gradual begin to the season will not assist issues. These across the membership are assured that issues will flip round, however coming off of this end result into a global break can go a couple of other ways.
For these like Tillman, who will not be on worldwide obligation, this could be a time to work with the supervisor and different gamers across the squad to realize match health and are available again stronger to face a troublesome Frankfurt facet out of the break, however it might probably additionally see the draw fester and proceed to spiral. It is a problem that Ten Hag was sure to face ultimately, managing Leverkusen, however he’ll get to see how his workforce responds instantly. There could also be new faces within the squad by the tip of the switch market on Monday, however that is not one thing that may be relied on, and with a lot change already, the membership must rediscover their id and work towards stability.
Working like issues was will solely result in disappointment, and that is now ten Hag’s squad. He’ll have the time to depart his mark nevertheless it’s as much as him to find out if it is a good one or not.
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