Erik ten Hag Reacts To Shock Bayer Leverkusen Sacking After Just Two Games

‎Erik ten Hag said Bayer Leverkusen’s decision to dismiss him after only two Bundesliga matches came as a complete surprise, and he argued the club’s hierarchy had not shown him sufficient trust.

‎Leverkusen opened with a 2-1 home defeat to Hoffenheim and then drew 3-3 with 10-man Werder Bremen on Saturday. His abrupt departure followed on Monday.

‎Ten Hag, who had been out of management since his sacking by Manchester United in October last year, replaced Xabi Alonso in May on a two-year contract after the Spaniard left to take over at Real Madrid.

‎”The decision by Bayer Leverkusen’s management this morning to put me on a leave of absence came as a complete surprise. To part ways with a coach after just two league matches is unprecedented,” Ten Hag said in a statement posted by his agency on social media on Monday.

‎Under Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen clinched a historic double in the 2023–24 season: they secured their first Bundesliga title without losing a single match, won the DFB-Pokal, and reached the Europa League final.

‎However, Leverkusen faced a challenging summer as they lost several key players Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka, and Amine Adli.

‎This exodus made Erik ten Hag’s task of building on Alonso’s success considerably more difficult.

‎”Building a new, cohesive team is a careful process that requires both time and trust …,” Ten Hag said.

‎”I started this job with full conviction and energy, but unfortunately the management was not willing to grant me the time and trust I needed, which I deeply regret. I feel this was never a relationship based on mutual trust.”

‎Ten Hag’s most successful stint came at Ajax Amsterdam, where he coached from 2018 to 22, winning three Eredivisie titles and taking the club to the Champions League semi-finals in 2019.

‎”Clubs that placed their trust in me have been rewarded with success and silverware,” he added.