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Bayer Leverkusen have sacked Erik ten Hag after solely two Bundesliga video games accountable for the membership.
Though Ten Hag received his first match on the helm – a 4-0 victory over fourth-tier SG within the first spherical of the German Cup – he oversaw a troubled begin to the brand new league season. Leverkusen misplaced their opening sport, a 2-1 house defeat by Hoffenheim, after which let a two-goal lead slip in opposition to 10-man Werder Bremen this weekend.
Disharmony was clear on the pitch at Bremen as Leverkusen gamers argued over who would take a second-half penalty. Ten Hag described the on-field dispute between Exequiel Palacios and Patrick Schick – who subsequently scored from the spot – as “unacceptable”.
The choice was ultimately made by captain Robert Andrich. “I don’t wish to sound too destructive however we’re between a rock and exhausting place,” he mentioned after the sport, in response to The Instances. “There are too many individuals simply enjoying for themselves.”
Ten Hag was given a troublesome process following within the footsteps of Xabi Alonso, who led Leverkusen to their first ever league title in 2023-24 earlier than taking up at Actual Madrid in June.
Key gamers Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Granit Xhaka all departed this summer time, and German media reported friction between Ten Hag and the membership’s hierarchy, which didn’t publicly again the supervisor over current days.
Leverkusen issued a brief assertion which learn: “Bayer 04 Leverkusen has parted methods with head coach Erik ten Hag with quick impact. Coaching will likely be taken over by the assistant teaching employees in the intervening time.”
Ten Hag is the third former Manchester United supervisor to be sacked in current days, following the departures of Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer from Fenerbahce and Besiktas respectively.