The echoes of triumph still resonate through the BayArena, a sweet, almost unbelievable symphony of a Bundesliga title won just two seasons ago. Under the maestro Xabi Alonso, Bayer Leverkusen transformed from perennial contenders to undisputed champions, a team of “stoppage-time menaces” who defied expectations and rewrote their own history. Yet, as the new season unfolds, a different tune is playing – one of immediate challenges, high expectations, and a candid dressing-room assessment: “We played like boys today and not men.”
The Bitter Taste of a Debut Goal
For Malik Tillman, his debut in a Leverkusen shirt should have been a dream come true. Finding the back of the net in his first competitive outing for the club is a moment most players can only fantasize about. But on Saturday, against a ten-man Werder Bremen, Tillman`s individual success was overshadowed by a collective capitulation. Leverkusen twice squandered two-goal leads, ultimately settling for a frustrating 3-3 draw. The euphoria of his goal quickly soured, replaced by the grim reality of a team struggling to find its footing.
Speaking after the match, a visibly frustrated Tillman relayed the blunt words from his new manager, Eric Ten Hag. It was a clear, unvarnished message that cut through any lingering pride from a debut goal: “He also said it`s embarrassing how we finished the game, so the mood wasn`t great.” This isn`t the start any manager, player, or fan envisioned after such a glorious recent past.
Stepping Out of a Giant`s Shadow
Eric Ten Hag arrives in Leverkusen with a formidable task: filling the colossal boots of Xabi Alonso, who has since departed for the bright lights of Real Madrid. Alonso`s tenure was characterized by tactical brilliance, unwavering control, and a magical ability to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Now, Ten Hag, despite an FA Cup triumph with Manchester United, faces the unenviable position of a successor manager tasked with maintaining elite standards while simultaneously forging a new identity.
Sporting Director Simon Rolfes, however, maintains confidence in Ten Hag. His reasoning? The Dutch manager`s proven track record in developing young talent at Ajax and even during his stint at United, coupled with a philosophy centered around “dominant football, attacking football.” It`s a vision that aligns with Leverkusen`s aspirations, but visions, as the Bremen result shows, can be notoriously difficult to manifest on the pitch, especially with a squad undergoing significant upheaval.
A Team in Flux: The Rebuilding Imperative
The challenges extend far beyond the manager`s office. Leverkusen is in the midst of a significant squad overhaul. Not only do they need to replace a generational talent in Florian Wirtz, but the club has also seen eight major outgoings. Key figures like Granit Xhaka, once the vocal leader marshalling the midfield, are now plying their trade elsewhere. This leaves a void in both experience and leadership, a crucial missing ingredient when a team needs to hold onto a lead or galvanize itself during difficult moments.
The recruitment of players like Lucas Vazquez aims to inject some much-needed experience into a predominantly young and new dressing room. Yet, the emphasis remains on the growth of emerging talents like Malik Tillman. At just 23, Tillman is back in Germany, making a step up from PSV Eindhoven to a club with Champions League ambitions. Coming off an injury, his fitness is still a work in progress, but his dynamic playmaking potential is undeniable. However, individual brilliance will only get Leverkusen so far without a cohesive defensive unit and a collective will to see games out.
“We are one group and we should stick together on the pitch. We`ve all been in this situation before, so it shouldn`t be the way it was.”
— Malik Tillman, reflecting on the draw
The Road Ahead: Patience or Panic?
The Bundesliga is a fiercely competitive league, with Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund often locking down the top spots. Teams like Eintracht Frankfurt, VfB Stuttgart, and Freiburg are all vying for those coveted Champions League places, making every dropped point a significant blow. Leverkusen`s slow start, therefore, puts them immediately behind the curve, adding pressure to an already challenging transition season.
The international break offers a crucial respite – a chance for Ten Hag to work intensively with the players not on national duty, to instill his system, and to foster the “strong unit” that Rolfes speaks of. It`s a period for reflection and recalibration, but also one where the disappointment of the Bremen draw could fester. The transfer window`s closing on Monday also looms, potentially bringing in more new faces or, conversely, leaving the squad as is, requiring current players to adapt even more rapidly.
This is Eric Ten Hag`s moment to leave his indelible mark on Bayer Leverkusen. The ghost of Xabi Alonso`s glorious past is a heavy burden, but also a blueprint for what`s possible. The initial bumps in the road are perhaps an inevitable part of such a significant transition. The question isn`t whether there will be setbacks – Rolfes readily admits they are “a part of the sport of life.” The real test will be how quickly Ten Hag can transform a squad still finding its identity into a team of “men,” capable of securing victories and steering the club towards its lofty ambitions, rather than merely playing like promising “boys.”
