Ten Hag Faces Uphill Battle After Leverkusen's Squad Overhaul

Leverkusen, Germany – Bayer Leverkusen manager Erik ten Hag has tempered expectations, admitting he possesses no "magic wand" to swiftly improve the team's fortunes following a substantial squad overhaul. His comments come in the wake of a challenging start to the Bundesliga season, marked by a 2-1 defeat to Hoffenheim on the opening day.

Ten Hag acknowledged the need for immediate improvements but stressed that the current situation is a logical consequence of significant player departures and the exit of former manager Xabi Alonso. Key figures such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Amine Adli, Jonathan Tah, and Granit Xhaka have all left the club, with defender Piero Hincapie also heavily linked with a move to Arsenal.

"Pressure is always there and we must win. That's clear," Ten Hag told reporters. "I am no Harry Potter. We will work to take a step forward. We know the reasons [for the Hoffenheim defeat]. We have corrected it and need to apply it now. We must always win. We have to win every game and find a way to do it. We did it well a few times in the pre-season, but not well last week."

New Faces and Transfer Window Uncertainty

In an effort to rebuild, Leverkusen has brought in 15 new players, and Ten Hag anticipates further activity before the transfer window closes. "Let us wait," he added. "In the final days or hours, anything can happen. There are always surprises. This has been a very busy transfer window. One or two things could still happen on the weekend for us and for the whole transfer market. On Tuesday we will know what it will look like."

Among the notable new arrivals is experienced defender Lucas Vazquez, who joined after a decade with Real Madrid, during which he amassed an impressive 23 trophies. Vazquez spoke positively about his decision, noting encouraging conversations with former Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso and other players with Bundesliga experience.

Upcoming Clash Against Werder Bremen

Leverkusen's next challenge is against Werder Bremen, a fixture where they will look to turn their fortunes around. Despite being simulation favorites, Leverkusen is currently winless in their last four Bundesliga matches. However, they hold a remarkable record of 34 away Bundesliga games unbeaten, the longest streak in the league's history, and have not lost in Bremen in nearly nine years.

Players to watch in the upcoming encounter include Justin Njinmah for Bremen, who netted his 10th Bundesliga goal in their opening-day loss, and Leverkusen's Alex Grimaldo, who provided an assist in their previous match and has been a consistent performer since his arrival in August 2023. Werder Bremen, on the other hand, has a challenging historical record against Leverkusen, winning only one of their last 10 meetings, but they boast a strong defensive record at home, keeping clean sheets in their last four home games.