Ten Hag on Leverkusen’s Bundesliga opener defeat: “We still have a lot of work ahead of us”

Erik ten Hag has shared his thoughts on Bayer Leverkusen’s disappointing 1-2 defeat to Hoffenheim.

Bayer Leverkusen suffered a disappointing 1-2 defeat to Hoffenheim in their first Bundesliga match of the 2025/26 season under new head coach Erik ten Hag.

Things began according to plan for Die Werkself, with Jarell Quansah giving them an early lead, but Hoffenheim hit back to turn the game around and secure all three points.

The performance and result left Ten Hag disappointed.

“We didn’t manage to build proper structures and get into the final third and into the penalty area,” the Dutch coach admitted in a post-match interview.

He stressed that his Leverkusen side need time to find their rhythm after losing several key players over the summer. 

“Of course we’re disappointed. We still have a lot of work ahead of us – we know that. It takes time, and we have to stay calm, keep working, and use every day to improve.”

Leverkusen will look to bounce back next weekend when they travel to Werder Bremen.