Manchester United’s shock League Cup exit to fourth-tier Grimsby Town continues to dominate headlines, but over in Germany, another storyline is unfolding with a familiar face at the centre of it.
Ruben Amorim’s men may be under immense pressure at Old Trafford, yet Manchester United supporters have also been keeping a close eye on Erik ten Hag, who left the club in turmoil last season after a disastrous spell in charge.
United fans remember all too well how Ten Hag’s reign unravelled in Manchester, with poor results, dressing room unrest and tactical chaos defining his final months.
Now, early signs suggest history may be repeating itself at Bayer Leverkusen.
With the Bundesliga season just beginning, Erik ten Hag is already being met with criticism, echoing the scepticism that marred his time in England.
Leverkusen’s weak cup showing at Großaspach was followed by a 2-1 Bundesliga opening day defeat against Hoffenheim, and doubts are already surfacing about Ten Hag’s suitability for the role.
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According to German outlet Kicker, concerns have been raised within the club hierarchy, with his pressing and counter-pressing principles – once trademarks of his philosophy – nowhere to be seen.
The criticism hasn’t been confined to results.
Reports suggest frustration over Ten Hag’s match preparation and team talks, two areas in which his predecessor Xabi Alonso excelled.
Tactical decisions have also raised eyebrows, particularly his choice to play new signing Aleix Garcia out of position on the right wing rather than in central midfield, a move seen to have weakened the team’s structure.
Leverkusen did undergo a major rebuild in the summer, losing key title-winning figures Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Lukas Hradecky, and Jonathan Tah.
Heavy reinforcements arrived – Malik Tillman, Jarell Quansah, Loic Bade, and Lucas Vazquez among them – but Ten Hag’s public call for “four to five more” new arrivals reportedly did not go down well with the club’s leadership.
The Dutchman is already under pressure to turn things around in the coming fixture against Werder Bremen.
With expectations high and investment significant, the next few weeks could prove decisive in how long Leverkusen’s board are willing to stand by their new coach.
For United fans, the story feels like deja vu – Ten Hag is again stumbling out of the blocks, and the signs suggest his struggles weren’t limited to Old Trafford.
