Erik ten Hag, Bayer Leverkusen’s new manager, says his team has ‘work to do’ despite their 4-0 DFB-Pokal win over Sonnenhof Grossaspach. While pleased with the victory, Ten Hag emphasized the need for improvement given key player departures and new arrivals. Leverkusen’s sporting director, Simon Rolfes, echoed this sentiment, noting the team requires time to gel. Leverkusen, who face Hoffenheim in their Bundesliga opener, look to build on the win but remain focused on continued progress.
Despite a resounding 4-0 victory over Sonnenhof Grossaspach in the DFB-Pokal, Erik ten Hag, the new manager of Bayer Leverkusen, insists there is still plenty of work to be done. The match marked Ten Hag’s first competitive game in charge, but the Dutchman was far from complacent, emphasizing the need for continued improvement.
Leverkusen, Bundesliga runners-up last season, dominated the match at WIRmachenDRUCK Arena. Patrik Schick opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, giving Leverkusen a 1-0 lead at halftime. The second half saw Leverkusen capitalize on their dominance, further amplified by Grossaspach's disciplinary issues. In the 66th minute, Grossaspach captain Volkan Celiktas received a second yellow card, reducing his team to 10 men. Arthur quickly exploited this advantage, extending Leverkusen's lead just eight minutes later.
The situation worsened for Grossaspach when Mert Tasdelen was shown a straight red card, leaving the hosts with only nine players on the field. Leverkusen seized the opportunity, adding two more goals in quick succession. Christian Kofane scored first, followed by Alex Grimaldo who converted a penalty, sealing a comprehensive 4-0 win for Leverkusen.
Leverkusen's dominance was reflected in the statistics. The team registered an expected goals (xG) total of 4.37 from 20 shots, significantly higher than Grossaspach’s 0.62 from 12 attempts. However, despite the comfortable victory and statistical superiority, Ten Hag remained focused on the areas that require further refinement.
"Grossaspach played well and caused us problems," Ten Hag admitted. "In the end, we deserved to win, but we had some good spells. Still, there is still room for improvement. We will continue to work on that."
Ten Hag's appointment followed Xabi Alonso’s departure to Real Madrid in May. The transition period has been marked by significant changes within the Leverkusen squad, with several key players leaving the club. Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Granit Xhaka have all moved on to new teams, necessitating a period of adjustment and integration for the new arrivals.
The match against Grossaspach saw competitive debuts for several new Leverkusen players, including Mark Flekken, Christian Kofane, Axel Tape, Ernest Poku, Ibrahim Maza, and Jarell Quansah. The influx of new talent requires time to gel and develop the necessary cohesion for a successful season.
Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes echoed Ten Hag's sentiments, emphasizing the need for patience during this transitional phase. "Of course, it needs time. You can see not every action worked out," Rolfes said. "But we saw today that we’ve got interesting young players. Ibrahim Maza did well and showed his qualities between the lines."
Rolfes added: "That’s why it will take a little time, but we still have a good team." The club's focus remains on integrating the new players and refining the team's overall performance as they prepare for the challenges of the Bundesliga season.
Leverkusen's Bundesliga campaign begins next Saturday with a home match against Hoffenheim. The team will be looking to build on their DFB-Pokal victory and demonstrate the progress they have made under Ten Hag's guidance. The match will provide an early indication of Leverkusen's potential this season, but Ten Hag and Rolfes are aware that further improvement is essential if they are to compete at the highest level.
The emphasis on continuous improvement, despite a seemingly dominant victory, reflects Ten Hag's commitment to instilling a culture of excellence at Leverkusen. The team's journey this season will be closely watched as they strive to reach their full potential under their new manager.