Why Ten Hag Lasted Less Than 10 Weeks

After his short tenure astatine Bayer Leverkusen, Erik 10 Hag is being dubbed Erik Ten Weeks by immoderate critics.

Ten weeks is an exaggeration - his reign was really 1 time short of 9 weeks, clocking successful astatine 62 days. He lasted conscionable 2 Bundesliga games.

He was sacked aft Leverkusen threw distant a 3-1 lead against 10-man Werder Bremen connected Saturday, to tie 3-3.

That disappointing consequence came 1 week aft Leverkusen mislaid to Hoffenheim in their play opener astatine home. Ten Hag only won 1 competitory crippled – a German Cup necktie against a fourth-division side.

The knowledgeable Dutchman was appointed successful precocious May to switch title-winning coach Xabi Alonso, who departed for Real Madrid, but he did not statesman activity until 1 July.

At first, Leverkusen seemed to beryllium convinced he could lead a partial rebuild, arsenic nan Werkself were losing a number of cardinal players, including Florian Wirtz and Jonathan Tah.

But while early results this play were disappointing, they were not nan sole logic - aliases moreover nan main logic - for Ten Hag's dismissal.

Almost from nan start, Ten Hag caused irritation pinch his decisions and behaviour.

For instance, he rescheduled a friends against Flamengo's under-20s squad during Leverkusen's training campy successful Brazil. The crippled was played 4 days earlier than initially planned and Leverkusen mislaid 5-1 successful rather an upset.

Around nan aforesaid time, Ten Hag took a stance against Granit Xhaka's departure, saying nan midfield leader ought to stay and that Leverkusen had mislaid capable cardinal players already.

However, Leverkusen had made it known that Xhaka could time off if nan correct connection came in. He went to Sunderland.

In addition, Ten Hag criticised his players for not being fresh enough, moreover though he and his unit had overseen pre-season.

And he has been accused of lacking nan benignant of charisma basal to lead immoderate eager top-flight team, but particularly a recently assembled group of players. He seemed to struggle pinch convincing players of his ideas. Sources adjacent to nan nine propose he gave lacklustre pre-match talks.

Before nan play opener against Hoffenheim, it has been said Ten Hag didn't moreover springiness a pre-match talk.

In contrast, Spaniard Alonso tried his champion to amended his German and his activity skills arsenic a head during his tenure astatine Leverkusen.

It is still a large daze that Leverkusen's decision-makers person sacked Ten Hag truthful soon.

It is not a bully look for sporting head Simon Rolfes - who based on vehemently successful favour of Ten Hag erstwhile nan hiring process took spot successful May - aliases main executive Fernando Carro.

"A parting of ways astatine this early shape of nan play is painful, but we felt it was necessary," Carro said connected Monday.

One would expect that they did thorough inheritance checks earlier hiring Ten Hag.

But past again, only a fewer years ago, coming disconnected his successful stint astatine Ajax, Ten Hag was a much-lauded shot coach.

He won nan Dutch title 3 times and reached nan Champions League semi-finals successful 2019.

Even his first twelvemonth astatine Manchester United seemed promising, and nan truth that he yet was fto spell was often attributed to nan turmoil astatine Old Trafford alternatively than to his weaknesses arsenic a manager.

As for Leverkusen, they person a messiness connected their hands. They seemed consenting to waste almost each subordinate who considered leaving.

At nan aforesaid time, players specified arsenic Malik Tillman and Jarell Quansah signed, reasoning Ten Hag would beryllium their coach.

In nan past and moreover earlier Alonso's successful run, nan nine had often been praised for level-headed decisions.

Monday's announcement mightiness alteration that perception.

Leverkusen now request to find a replacement during nan world break. They person reportedly held talks pinch erstwhile Barcelona coach Xavi, while erstwhile Dortmund and Leipzig head Marco Rose is besides precocious connected their list.

Whoever they move to, nan Ten Hag saga won't beryllium forgotten easily.