Erik ten Hag's disastrous start draws comparisons to Xabi Alonso

Erik ten Hag's start at Bayer Leverkusen is encountering many doubts, and Xabi Alonso is quickly brought up.

According to German source Kicker, concerns have arisen within Leverkusen following their 1-2 loss to Hoffenheim. The team appeared to lack a clear tactical plan, while key elements of Ten Hag’s style, such as pressing and counter-pressing, were completely absent. This surprised many, especially since Leverkusen is known for disciplined and energetic play under Xabi Alonso’s leadership.

Beyond the on-field performance, Ten Hag has been questioned about his pre-match preparations and ability to motivate players—areas where his predecessor Alonso excelled. His in-game tactical changes have also sparked debate, particularly the decision to move newcomer Aleix Garcia from his natural central midfield role to right wing, disrupting the team structure and significantly weakening the player’s effectiveness.

It is important to recall that Leverkusen experienced a turbulent summer, losing four key players: Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Lukas Hradecky, and Jonathan Tah. Despite this, the club invested heavily to acquire Malik Tillman, Jarell Quansah, Loic Bade, and Lucas Vazquez. However, Ten Hag’s public statement during preseason expressing the desire for “4-5 new signings” was reportedly not well received by the club’s management.

The pressure mounts, especially given the high expectations for Leverkusen following impressive displays during Xabi Alonso’s era. The upcoming match against Werder Bremen will be a critical test for Ten Hag; if improvements are not made swiftly, the management’s patience could run out after just a few rounds.