Leverkusen ‘Went Wrong Way’ Under Ten Hag, Says Sporting Director Rolfes

Bayer Leverkusen sporting director Simon Rolfes has said it became clear early on that the club was heading in the “wrong direction” under former manager Erik ten Hag, who was dismissed after just two Bundesliga matches — the shortest managerial spell in the league’s history.

Speaking to AFP and other media on Thursday, Rolfes described the decision to sack the Dutch coach as “hard but necessary.”

“If you have the feeling that you’re going in the wrong direction, you shouldn’t wait until you get there,” Rolfes said. “If it’s not a good fit, it’s better to split.”

Ten Hag, who was sacked by Manchester United in October 2024, joined Leverkusen in May on a deal running until 2027, succeeding Xabi Alonso, who left to manage Real Madrid.

Rolfes revealed he had spoken with Alonso while Ten Hag’s tenure was beginning to unravel.

Leverkusen endured a rocky start under Ten Hag, including a 5–1 pre-season defeat to Flamengo’s under-20 side in Brazil — his first game in charge.

“Let’s say it this way, it was not good,” Rolfes admitted.

The poor form continued into the Bundesliga season, with a home loss to Hoffenheim followed by a 3–3 draw against 10-man Werder Bremen, despite Leverkusen leading 3–1.

“You need a bit of time to adapt, but the feeling was we were not making the steps in the best way,” Rolfes explained. “And it was not getting better fast. You need the head coach and staff to give stability to the players — and we didn’t feel this.”

Rolfes said the club acted quickly to avoid further decline.

“We wanted to be fast with this decision,” he said. “Most of the time, you wait too long — waiting for bad results.”

Since Ten Hag’s departure, Leverkusen have remained unbeaten, recording three wins and three draws across all competitions, climbing to fifth place in the Bundesliga.

‘Dominant’ Wirtz Will Shine at Liverpool – Rolfes

Rolfes also expressed confidence that Florian Wirtz, who joined Liverpool for an initial £100 million this summer, will soon find his form despite a slow start to life in the Premier League.

The 21-year-old German midfielder has yet to score or assist in nine appearances for the Reds, but Rolfes insisted it was the “right decision” for him to leave the Bundesliga.

“Florian is a team player. And at the moment, they’re in the process of creating a team,” Rolfes said. “When the team is playing more like a team and everyone has his role, Florian’s quality will rise.”

Rolfes noted that Wirtz, whom he signed for Leverkusen in 2020, still ranks among the most creative players in England.

“He’s created the most chances in the Premier League since his move,” he pointed out. “There’s no doubt he will make it and become a really dominant football player.”

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