He steps in big footsteps: Dutch Erik Ten Hag headed his first training session at Bayer Leverkusen on Monday.
It is the beginning of a new era at Bayer – without successful coach Xabi Alonso and without exceptional player Florian Wirtz. Erik Ten Hag is the name of the new on the sidelines, and he really wants his new club. Despite the extremely changeable weather with some showers, his first unit lasted a proud 100 minutes. “The first training session was exciting and beautiful. I was able to see a few young players,” said the 55-year-old after the gallop under the Bayer Cross.
Ten HAG occurs with severe heritage
The successor to Alonso, who changed to Real Madrid, steps in big footsteps. The 43-year-old Spaniard was head coach for three years and led Bayer to the first championship in club history and the DFB Cup victory in the 2023/24 season without defeat. In the past season, the club succeeded as Bundesliga-Weiter The renewed qualification for the Champions League.
The task for Neu-Coach Ten HAG is also made more difficult by the fact that he has to shape a new team in parts. Player Wirtz has switched to Liverpool FC. According to media reports, the obligation of the midfielder Malik Tillman from PSV Eindhoven is imminent in his position.
“Catch off the teams”
For the central defender Jonathan Tah, which was switched to Bayern Munich, Leverkusen brought the Englishman Jarell Quansah from Liverpool FC. Mark Flekken, came from FC Brentford, could be the new number one in the goal instead of Lukas Hradecky. So a lot of work for ten HAG, who promised: “We will rebuild the squad.” There will probably be no exceptional player like Wirtz in the coming season. “We have to catch the exits through the team,” said the Dutch.
Are back on the training ground: the team of Bayer 04 Leverkusen around the new coach Erik ten HAG
Speaking of the team: she looked a little together at the start of the training. Many national players were still on vacation. Algerian Ibrahim Maza (came from Hertha BSC) on Monday was the only newcomer to Algerian Ibrahim Maza on Monday. For this, a whole series of talents from the Leverkusen U19 frolicked on the square and under the eyes of almost 100 spectators completed numerous passport and running exercises.
Ten days of preparation in Rio
Next Monday the team will fly to Rio de Janeiro for ten days. Leverkusen is the first Bundesliga club to complete part of the season preparation in South America. Training is trained on the site of Flamengo Rio de Janeiro, the club that had been eliminated at the club World Cup in the round of 16 against Bayern Munich.
On August 5, Leverkusen celebrates the season opening in the BayArena with the fans and the test game against the Italian first division promoted Pisa SC. The seasonal rehearsal tests on August 8th at Chelsea in London on August 8th. The first competitive game for Bayer is the first round game in the DFB Cup on August 15th at the Baden-Württemberg fourth league promoted SG Sonnenhof Großaspach. At the Bundesliga start, the Leverkuseners receive TSG Hoffenheim a week later.
Our sources:
- German press agency
- Bayer 04 Leverkusen website
