Erik ten Hag cautions Bayer Leverkusen fans against expecting instant success, declaring, “Nobody is Harry Potter.” Emphasizing patience, hard work, and gradual development, he aims to rebuild the squad and position them for success by the season’s critical stages.
Erik ten Hag, the newly appointed manager of Bayer Leverkusen, has cautioned fans against expecting instant success, famously declaring, "Nobody is Harry Potter." The former Manchester United boss stepped into the BayArena following Xabi Alonso's departure for Real Madrid, a move that followed Leverkusen's historic first Bundesliga title in the 2023-24 season. The weight of expectation is naturally high, but Ten Hag is keen to manage those expectations, especially given the significant changes within the squad.
Last season saw Leverkusen finish a considerable distance behind Bayern Munich, trailing by 13 points and exiting the Champions League in the round of 16 against the same rivals. The landscape at the club has shifted dramatically since then, with key players like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Odilon Kossounou, Granit Xhaka, Lukas Hradecky, and Jonathan Tah departing for a combined total exceeding €200 million. These departures represent a significant overhaul of the squad that achieved so much under Alonso, placing considerable pressure on Ten Hag to rebuild and integrate new talent effectively.
In response to these departures, Leverkusen has welcomed a host of new faces, including Malik Tillman, Jarell Quansah, Ibrahim Maza, Mark Flekken, and Ernest Poku. These additions are aimed at injecting fresh energy and quality into the team. The first competitive test for Ten Hag’s revamped squad will be a DFB-Pokal first-round match against fourth-tier side Sonnenhof Grossaspach. This game offers an early opportunity to assess how well the new players have integrated and whether Ten Hag’s tactical approach is beginning to take shape.
When questioned about Leverkusen's prospects for contending for major titles this season, Ten Hag emphasized the need for patience. "I know how to manage processes, and you can't force the process. It's impossible. Nobody is Harry Potter," he stated emphatically. The analogy highlights his belief that building a successful team takes time and cannot be achieved through instant magic. He stressed that creating a cohesive and effective unit requires careful management, strategic planning, and the gradual development of both the team and individual players.
Ten Hag elaborated on his approach, suggesting that the true measure of success will be evident later in the season. "For me, the start of the season is the middle of March, April 1, then you have to be in a position where you can win something," he explained. This timeline indicates that he views the initial months as a period of growth and adjustment, with the focus on reaching peak performance by the critical stages of the campaign. Until then, he insists that the team must "work unbelievably hard to get into that position, to develop and progress the game model and to develop the team and the individual players."
Leverkusen's recent history in the DFB-Pokal adds another layer of expectation. The team won the competition in 2023-24 as part of their undefeated domestic season. Last season saw them reach the semi-finals, where they suffered a surprising defeat to Arminia Bielefeld, then a third-tier team. As Leverkusen embarks on their quest for silverware in the 2025-26 season, they will be led by a new captain, Robert Andrich, who succeeds Hradecky following the latter's move to Monaco.
Speaking about Andrich's appointment, Ten Hag noted, "It was a natural process. He was the natural leader in pre-season. There were others. We have several leaders, but he led the way and did it very well and very positively." Andrich's leadership qualities and positive influence within the team appear to have made him the ideal choice to guide Leverkusen through the upcoming season. The appointment signals Ten Hag's emphasis on building a strong team culture and fostering leadership from within the squad.
In summary, Erik ten Hag's arrival at Bayer Leverkusen marks the beginning of a new era. While fans may harbor high hopes, the manager is keen to temper expectations, emphasizing the need for patience and hard work. With significant changes in the squad, Ten Hag’s focus is on managing the process of rebuilding and integrating new talent, with the ultimate goal of positioning Leverkusen for success by the critical stages of the season. His leadership, combined with the team's potential, sets the stage for an intriguing and potentially transformative campaign.