Erik ten Hag is reportedly under intense pressure at Bayer Leverkusen, with his position said to be hanging by a thread just two games into the new Bundesliga season, Afrosport reports.
The Dutchman was appointed in May as Xabi Alonso’s successor following the Spaniard’s move to Real Madrid. However, his time in Germany has begun in disappointing fashion, as Leverkusen are yet to secure a league win.
According to reports from Germany, the club’s hierarchy is expected to assess Ten Hag’s future once the summer transfer window closes, with a decision potentially being made as early as Monday. No official statement has been released by the club.
The 55-year-old kicked off his tenure with a routine cup victory over Sonnenhof Grossaspach, but optimism quickly faded. Leverkusen fell to a 2–1 defeat away to Hoffenheim—despite an early goal from Jarell Quansah—and then squandered a two-goal lead in a dramatic 3–3 draw against 10-man Werder Bremen on Saturday.
The tension between Ten Hag and the club chiefs was further exacerbated by his blunt post-match remarks following the Bremen draw, where he openly criticised the his players.
He said: “The players aren’t ready. We have a new team and some of the players aren’t at all fit enough to play. The team didn’t function at all during the final stage of the game. That’s just the way it is.
“They need to bring more intensity and get fitter in order to meet my standards. After the international break, we face real competition and must perform as a team.
“That begins with taking responsibility and delivering individual performances. And they have to demonstrate to me that they want to work together.
“First, we need to have the players. There’s been a major upheaval. A lot has changed in the leadership and hierarchy of the team. Now new players have to step up. We didn’t do that well today.”
Ten Hag caught the eye with his playing style during his time at Ajax, where he achieved notable success—securing five trophies, including three Eredivisie titles.
He took over as Manchester United manager in the summer of 2022 and guided the club to consecutive title-winning campaigns. However, his tenure took a downturn during a turbulent second season, ultimately leading to his dismissal just two months into the 2024-25 campaign.
German media, meanwhile, are now describing Ten Hag’s situation as “extremely critical,” with growing internal pressure potentially bringing his Leverkusen reign to a premature end—barely three months after it began.
