Former Man Utd boss Erik ten Hag forced into embarrassing U-turn at new club

Erik ten Hag's attempts to introduce wholesale changes at Bayer Leverkusen look as though they will have to wait. The former Manchester United boss has taken over from Xabi Alonso at the BayArena, but an instant tactical shift has proved difficult.

Leverkusen won the Bundesliga in 2024 with Alonso's three-at-the-back approach reaping rewards. Ten Hag's preference throughout his career has been for a back four - an approach which helped him reach the Champions League semi-finals with Ajax and win two domestic cups with United - but things are proving trickier in Germany.

It hasn't helped that Ten Hag has been forced to rebuild after the loss of some key players. Jeremie Frimpong and Jonathan Tah were the first to seal moves away, with Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka since following suit.

After a humbling defeat to a Flamengo Under-20 side in his first pre-season game, Ten Hag oversaw a victory over Bochum on Sunday. With the new season drawing closer, though, a return to an Alonso-style back three appears inevitable.

Sporting director Simon Rolfes has said he held conversations with Ten Hag over the tweak, telling Bild: "I believe it's a good system, that we have great stability in it and that we have the players for it. It makes sense to put many of the players on the pitch."

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Swiss midfielder Xhaka, one of Alonso's important signings ahead of the 2023-24 title campaign, has returned to the Premier League with Sunderland. "I'm very proud to be here. When I spoke to the club, I was excited and I felt the energy, and the mentality that all the people and players have," the former Arsenal star said.

"It's exactly what I wanted, and I have a very good feeling. We are back to where this club needs to be, and we want to stay here to write our own history. I feel that I'm ready to help the team with my experience but with quality as well."

Ten Hag has brought in a number of new faces, including former Premier League stars Jarell Quansah and Mark Flekken. Quansah made his debut in the weekend win over Bochum, as did fellow new arrivals Ibrahim Maza and Christian Kofane.

Leverkusen have also spent £30m on Malik Tillman, with the United States international joining from PSV Eindhoven. "This club has always played great football. But in the last four or five years Leverkusen have grown enormously and become attractive to a lot of players throughout Europe," the former Rangers loanee said.

"I want to win something. That was my aim in Glasgow and in Eindhoven and it remains my aim here,"

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