Ten Hag responds to Bayer Leverkusen after being dismissed

Erik ten Hag openly criticized Bayer Leverkusen following the shocking decision to sack him, stating that he never received the necessary trust from the club’s management.

Just after two rounds of the Bundesliga, Bayer Leverkusen made history with the decision to dismiss coach Erik ten Hag, setting a sad record as no coach in Germany’s top league has ever been dismissed so early in the season.

Ten Hag, appointed on July 1st, left Leverkusen with only 1 point from the first two matches. Defeat against Stuttgart and a bitter 3-3 draw with Werder Bremen, where the team lost a 3-1 lead against an opponent reduced to 10 men, intensified the pressure on the Dutch coach. Earlier, the summer friendlies had already revealed many issues, including a 1-5 loss to Flamengo’s U20 team and the departure of several key players.

In a message posted on his personal page, Ten Hag expressed his anger: “Leverkusen’s decision this morning completely surprised me. No club has ever parted ways with a coach after just two matches. Many important players left the team this summer. Rebuilding a squad requires time and trust, but that trust never existed here. I feel this was not a relationship built on mutual confidence.”

The response from Leverkusen’s management further highlighted the conflict. Sporting director Simon Rolfes admitted the club had considered dismissal even before the draw with Bremen: “Based on what happened during the preparation phase and the first two rounds, we felt the need to act quickly before the team headed in the wrong direction.”

This swift separation shows the harshness of top-level football. While Ten Hag emphasized “every team that trusted me has achieved success and titles”, Leverkusen chose a decisive path, unwilling to continue taking risks.

Leaving BayArena bitterly, Ten Hag still took time to express gratitude: “I thank the fans for their passion and enthusiasm. I wish the team and the remaining squad much success for the rest of the season.”

With this decision, Leverkusen will soon need to find a replacement, while Ten Hag’s future once again becomes a big question mark in a career already marked by many challenges.

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