Leverkusen under scrutiny as Ten Hag faces winless start

Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Bayer Leverkusen is under intense scrutiny after the team collected just one point from its first two Bundesliga matches, most recently surrendering a 3-1 lead to draw 3-3 at Werder Bremen on Saturday. The result left the club winless at the start of the 2025-26 season and intensified speculation about the Dutch coach’s future in Germany.

Leverkusen had taken a two-goal lead in Bremen through a penalty from Patrik Schick shortly after the hour, following Romano Schmid’s spotkick that had halved the advantage on the stroke of halftime. However, Isaac Schmidt and 18-year-old Karim Coulibaly scored late to complete a comeback for Werder. Statistics provider Opta noted Coulibaly became Werder’s youngest Bundesliga goalscorer at 18 years and 99 days, and that the Green and Whites overturned a two-goal deficit while down to ten men in the top flight for the first time.

Speaking after the match, Ten Hag blamed fitness and cohesion, saying some players were not ready and the team “didn’t function at all during the final stage of the game.” He added that players must “bring more intensity and get fitter” and prove they want to work together as the club heads into...