Leverkusen went in ‘wrong direction’ under ex-boss Ten Hag, says sporting director

Bayer Leverkusen sporting manager Simon Rolfes said connected Thursday that it was wide from aboriginal connected that the nine were going successful the “wrong direction” nether erstwhile manager Erik Ten Hag.

Ex-Manchester United brag Ten Hag was sacked past period aft conscionable 2 Bundesliga matches — the shortest managerial stint earlier a firing successful the league’s history.

Speaking with AFP and different media, Rolfes insisted that the “hard” determination to sack the Dutchman was the close call.

“If you person the feeling that you’re going successful the incorrect direction, you shouldn’t hold until you get there,” helium said.

“If it’s not a bully fit, it’s amended to split.”

Sacked by Manchester United successful October 2024, Ten Hag signed a declaration with Leverkusen until 2027 successful May arsenic the successor to Xabi Alonso, who moved to Real Madrid.

Rolfes revealed that helium spoke connected the telephone with Alonso arsenic Ten Hag’s stint was unravelling.

Leverkusen were thumped 5-1 by Flamengo’s under-20s successful a pre-season affable successful Brazil successful Ten Hag’s opening crippled successful charge.

“Let’s accidental it this way, it was not good,” Rolfes said of the astonishment loss.

Ten Hag’s 2 league matches successful complaint were a location decision to Hoffenheim and a 3-3 gully against 10-man Werder Bremen, contempt having led 3-1 with a numerical advantage.

“You request a spot of clip to adapt, but the feeling was we were not making the steps successful the champion way. And it was not getting amended fast.

“You request the caput manager and the coaching unit to springiness stableness to the players and we didn’t consciousness this.”

Rolfes said the nine wanted “to beryllium accelerated with this decision”, adding that “most of the clip you hold excessively long, waiting for atrocious results”.

Since Ten Hag left, the nine person been unbeaten, with 3 wins and 3 draws successful each competitions, portion they person climbed up to 5th successful the Bundesliga.

– ‘Dominant’ Wirtz to travel bully –

The 43-year-old Rolfes besides backed erstwhile Leverkusen midfielder Florian Wirtz to flooded his teething problems astatine Liverpool, saying it was the “right decision” for him to determination connected from the Bundesliga.

Wirtz has nary goals and nary assists successful 9 Premier League and Champions League games since signing for the Reds for an archetypal £100 cardinal ($134 million) that could emergence to £116 million.

Rolfes, who brought the Germany midfielder to the nine successful 2020, said that disapproval was “part of the game”, but pointed to information which showed that Wirtz had “created the astir chances successful the Premier League” since his move.

Rolfes said that Wirtz’s problems were linked to those of Liverpool.

“Florian is simply a squad player. And astatine the moment, they’re successful the process of creating a team,” Rolfes said.

“When the squad is playing much similar a squad and everyone has his role, Florian’s prime volition rise.

“There’s nary uncertainty helium volition marque it and go a truly ascendant shot player.”

The station Leverkusen went successful ‘wrong direction’ nether ex-boss Ten Hag, says sporting director appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.