Erik ten Hag, the former Manchester United manager who was sacked in October 2024, has made a disastrous return to football. In hіѕ fіrѕt match іn charge of Bауеr Leverkusen, thе Dutсh tactician wіtnеѕѕеd a ѕhосkіng 1-5 defeat аgаіnѕt Flаmеngо U-20 in a рrе-ѕеаѕоn friendly hеld іn Brаzіl оn Frіdау, July 18, 2025.
Ten Hag was appointed as the successor to Xabi Alonso in May 2025, following Alonso’s historic Bundesliga title-winning campaign with Leverkusen. Hopes were high for Ten Hag’s new era at the club, but the opening match has sparked serious concerns about whether he’s the right man to continue Leverkusen’s upward trajectory.
Crushed by Flamengo’s Young Guns Despite Senior Stars
The match against Flamengo’s youth squad was expected to be a confidence-building exercise. In fact, Leverkusen were heavily favored to win, with betting odds of 1/100. But reality painted a very different picture.
Despite fielding a squad that included several seasoned first-team players such as goalkeeper Mark Flekken, midfielder Jonas Hofmann, and forward Victor Boniface, Leverkusen found themselves trailing just two minutes after kickoff. Flamengo’s youngsters took full advantage of Leverkusen’s defensive frailties and continued their dominance by scoring again in the 10th minute.
By halftime, the scoreline read a humiliating 4-0 in favor of the Brazilian side, leaving Ten Hag visibly frustrated on the sidelines. His side looked disorganized, sluggish, and lacked any real attacking coherence.
Tactical Shift Fails to Salvage Pride
Desperate to turn the tide, Ten Hag made wholesale changes at the hour mark, bringing on experienced names such as Granit Xhaka, left-back Alex Grimaldo, and striker Patrik Schick. However, the tactical switch did little to halt Flamengo’s momentum.
Leverkusen managed to score a consolation goal through young forward Montrell Culbreath in the 71st minute, but it was too little, too late. The match ended in a demoralizing 5-1 defeat that highlighted the significant work Ten Hag has ahead of him.
Notably, two of Leverkusen’s recent signings—Jarrell Quansah from Liverpool and Malik Tillman from PSV Eindhoven—were left out of the matchday squad, leaving fans wondering when the new recruits will be integrated into the team.
Early Warning Signs Before Competitive Football Returns
This crushing loss has raised serious questions about Ten Hag’s readiness to succeed in Germany. He inherits a team fresh off a historic season under Alonso, and expectations are sky-high. While pre-season results don’t always reflect a team’s true potential, such a heavy loss against a youth team is undeniably alarming.
Leverkusen will have three more friendly fixtures before the real challenge begins: matches against VfL Bochum (July 14), Fortuna Sittard (July 20), and Pisa (July 27) are now crucial opportunities for Ten Hag to fine-tune his tactics and restore belief in the squad.
From Old Trafford to the BayArena: Redemption or Repeat?
Erik ten Hag arrived at Leverkusen with a mixed reputation. Despite guiding Manchester United to a Carabao Cup and an FA Cup during his tenure, his downfall in the 2024/25 season—earning just 11 points from the first 9 Premier League matches—ultimately led to his dismissal.
Now, as he begins a new chapter in the Bundesliga, the stakes are high. Can Ten Hag bounce back from this early embarrassment and prove his critics wrong, or will his stint at Bayer Leverkusen go down as another disappointing chapter in his managerial journey?
The clock is ticking, and fans will be watching closely.
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