Erik ten Hag’s reign as Bayer Leverkusen supervisor started in disastrous style with a humiliating 5-1 defeat by Flamengo’s Underneath-20 aspect.
Ten Hag was sacked by Manchester United final October after managing simply three wins from their opening 9 matches of the season.
The Dutchman was appointed by Leverkusen in Might because the successor to Xabi Alonso, who left to take cost at Actual Madrid. They’re large boots to fill – Alonso led them to an unbeaten home double within the 2023-24 season.
The Bundesliga aspect made the lengthy journey to Brazil for Ten Hag’s debut, going through Flamengo’s youth aspect of their opening pre-season match.
And former Ajax boss named a robust beginning XI, sticking with predecessor Alonso’s title-winning 3-4-2-1 system.
Senior gamers together with new goalkeeper Mark Flekken (signed from Brentford), Jonas Hofmann and Victor Boniface had been all handed begins in Rio.
Erik ten Hag’s reign as Bayer Leverkusen supervisor started in disastrous style on Friday
The Bundesliga aspect suffered a humiliating 5-1 defeat by Flamengo’s Underneath-20 aspect
Ten Hag named a robust beginning XI for his first match, with Granit Xhaka coming off the bench
However it took simply two minutes for issues to go mistaken, as Flamengo struck early earlier than doubling their lead inside ten.
A 3rd purpose adopted moments later and, simply as Ten Hag regarded to restrict the injury, a fourth hit the web on the stroke of half-time.
The brand new boss had already hooked Flekken and Boniface within the thirty sixth minute, however selected to not make any additional adjustments on the break – and paid the value when Flamengo grabbed a fifth lower than 10 minutes into the second half.
Lastly, on the hour mark, Ten Hag opted for a full overhaul – taking off each remaining starter, together with the 2 early substitutes.
That noticed a wave of senior names enter the fray, with Granit Xhaka, Alex Grimaldo and Patrick Schick amongst these thrown on in an try to salvage some delight.
It was academy prospect Montrell Culbreath who gave Leverkusen one thing to cheer about, netting a comfort within the 71st minute.
The German aspect steadied themselves within the closing levels, however the heavy early injury had already sealed their destiny – leaving Ten Hag to endure a punishing debut.
The heavy defeat is Leverkusen’s first within the absence of Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, who each joined Liverpool for a mixed £145.5million.
Flamengo U-20s ran riot in Rio and had been 5-0 up inside one hour in opposition to Ten Hag’s males
Ten Hag minimize a dejected determine after watching his aspect get hammered in his first pleasant
Bayer Leverkusen had been handled to grand environment in Rio de Janerio and are left with a mountain to climb
The 2023-24 Bundesliga champions have added added to their squad with the arrivals of the likes of Flekken, Jarrell Quansah and Malik Tillman.
Leverkusen will proceed preparations for the brand new marketing campaign with matches in opposition to VFL Bochum, Fortuna Sittard, Pisa and Chelsea.
Rotten begins are nothing new for Ten Hag – simply take a look at how he acquired on in his first aggressive video games with Manchester United.
After dropping his first Premier League match at 2-1 residence to Brighton in August 2022, his aspect went on to lose 4-0 at Brentford, leaving them backside of the desk after two matches.
