Shaky “overall construct” – Leverkusen in justification mode

Bayer Leverkusen outnumbered a safe victory in Bremen. However, the puzzling appearance in the final phase weighs more heavily than the result. There is unrest in the team, the trainer is in justification mode – something has to happen quickly in Leverkusen.

“I noticed that the Leverkuseners are simply not there“, said Bremen’s Leonardo Bittencourt after the game – and got it in a nutshell. His outnumbered outnumbered two goals and the Bundesliga game that had already been lost against Leverkusen in added time – favored by a lethargic performance in the final phase.

The Werkself – after the 3: 1 and the dismissal against the opponent clearly on the course of the victory – was still gamazing the away success and leaving the fans at a loss: how could the champions of the 2023/24 season still give up this game?

Trainer ten HAG criticized missing leadership

In search of answers, the Leverkuseners were also responsible. Erik Ten Hag, the new trainer of the Werkelfa since summer, had no real explanation ready. “We had the game under control over long distances“, the Dutch said at the press conference after the game – and was at least right. Leverkusen was the better team for a long time against heavily replacement weakened Bremer. The more terrifying how the final phase was, in which Bremen came up massively and leverkusen was pushed into his own half.

“What we did then is not good. It is not our claim to appear like this“, said ten Hag.”A lot was missing in the team. Of course we have young players, but young or old – everyone should take responsibility. It is said to be a guided tour on the pitch, we lacked that. “

Symbolical Penalty discussion: “It was discussed in advance”

Missing leadership, no structure – that was symbolically recognizable in the seconds before Bayer’s penalty. Patrik Schick and Rodrigo Palacios could not agree on who can grab the ball, apparently until captain Robert Andrich intervened and the decision in favor of fate. A scene that visibly angry Ten Hag. Wasn’t it regulated in advance who will compete in the event of a penalty whistle?

“It was very clear: it was discussed in advance who was shooting who is number one, two and three“, Ten Hag replied and smiled, even though he looked anything but happy.”It must be clear who takes the ball, how the process is. They just didn’t do that. That doesn’t work. I have already asked that, there must be clarity. “

Andrich becomes clear: “Everyone in themselves”

A scolding of the coach in the direction of his team, who did not stick to the plan. But if you listened to players like Robert Andrich, ten HAG does not get away very well. “It was a prime example of our current form, our current situation. Lots of chaos, no real order. It was not at all undeserved that we had more two goals with a man“, the captain, one of the few players who are still in the squad from the Leverkusen Double-Elf 2023/24.

Once started, Andrich talked a little in Rage. “We have admitted without end, that has nothing to do with players, but simply with the overall construct. If everyone plays on their own on the square, then you don’t need to start playing“, says Andrich.

Ten HAG is looking forward to the complete squad

As is well known, the “overall construct” mentioned in Leverkusen is somewhat unstable in Leverkusen (including Florian Wirtz, Jonathan Tah and coach Xabi Alonso). The Leverkuseners reacted on the transfer market, including Malik Tillman for a lot of money, who wrote one of the few positive Leverkusen stories in Bremen with his debut goal. Other new players are either there (Lucas Vazquez) or could come until the end of the transfer window next Monday.

Accordingly, ten HAG asked for some time before you break the staff over the team and ultimately. “We have to have all the players first“, said the 55-year-old:”Then we will design the hierarchy. On Tuesday we know what we have for players. We had a big change, a lot has changed in the hierarchy. Now new players have to get up and design“In Piero Hincapie, the club will probably still leave a support of the previous years, on the access page there are midfielder Ezequiel Fernandez (al-Qadsisiya) and Elise Ben Seghir (As Monaco).

Extreme upheaval – then ten HAG succeeds?

In the case of twelve entrances and eleven exits so far, the team is to be granted a certain time. Nevertheless: In the case of such a helpless final phase against a team that is in the crisis, it is extremely weak in the crisis, is considered a relegation candidate and who also acts outnumbered, much more can also be expected from a newly compiled team – a fact that is also aware of the HAG: “If you play against ten players, it should be easy to press. If you have the ball against ten players, with the qualities of our players, it should be easy to create rooms and attack the opponent. “

Ten HAG are known to the problems, during the international break, those responsible for sports director Simon Rolfes will give him the time to work on the “overall construct”. The pressure on the coaching team is already enormous in view of the Leverkusen appearances and the statements of individual players. Bayer already had a lot of pressure in the game in Bremen, which will increase enormously again before the next Leverkusen appearance. On September 12th, this will be due, at the Friday evening game. The opponent? Eintracht Frankfurt of all people, which started the season with two convincing games. There could be easier tasks for such a pioneering game.