Leverkusen's Ten Hag laughs off 5-1 defeat, wants Xhaka to stay
Rio de Janeiro
Bayer Leverkusen's new coach Erik ten Hag was unflustered by his side losing 5-1 to Flamengo's under-20 team during their pre-season tour of Brazil on Friday.
'We haven't played together in this constellation,' he told reporters. 'I really don't give a shit about pre-season results.' He emphasized that what mattered to him was 'what I saw.'
In the final stages of the match, he said there was 'a very good approach.' The Dutchman has replaced Xabi Alonso, who left to coach Real Madrid after winning the Bundesliga in 2024 and finishing second to Bayern Munich last term.
Ten Hag is back in football for the first time since a forgettable spell at Manchester United and the English press were on his back again after the defeat in Rio de Janeiro.
Ten Hag told the Bild newspaper on Saturday that he hopes Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka stays at the club amid interest from Saudi Pro League club Neom SC.
The fact the 32-year-old flew to Brazil is a good sign for the new coach.
'Granit should stay,' he said. 'We are rebuilding, a new team is emerging ... but if it was up to me, he would stay.' Leverkusen utility player Robert Andrich was not as sanguine as his coach about the loss in Brazil.
'I don't want to sound too dramatic, but this was a bit of a catastrophe,' he told Bild.
Leverkusen, who have lost star players Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool, started with only Jonas Hofmann, Victor Boniface, Amine Adli and Arthur as first teamers.
Ten Hag changed almost the entire team at half-time and Patrik Schick, Alejandro Grimaldo, Xhaka and Andrich entered the fray.
Leverkusen stay in their training camp in Brazil until Wednesday and then have friendlies back in Europe against Pisa and Chelsea.
They return to the competitive action in the new season with a German Cup first-round clash at fourth-tier SG Sonnenhof Grossaspach on August 15.
Leverkusen host Hoffenheim in their Bundesliga opener on August 23.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Qatar Tribune
11 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
Rumours swirl over Max deal as Mercedes ready 2026 team
DPA Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) Speculation over a move by Formula One world champion Max Verstappen from Red Bull to Mercedes for next season has hit overdrive with the Silver Arrows all but ready to announce their 2026 line-up. 'We as a team will know how we want to play it next year. When we announce it is not yet entirely certain,' Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff told Austrian broadcaster ORF on Wednesday ahead of this weekend's Belgian Grand Prix. However, Wolff then appeared to dampen the speculation when he said: 'We want to continue with George and Kimi, that is the absolute priority.' Some media though think Kimi Antonelli could revert to being reserve driver, with George Russell keeping his seat alongside Verstappen. 'It's not just about the team making a decision. The drivers also need to know where they stand,' said Wolff. The 27-year-old Verstappen, a four-times world champion, appears to be dissatisfied at Red Bull this term having lost ground to championship leaders Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris in the McLarens. However, the Dutchman still has a valid contract with Red Bull until 2028 and team boss Christian Horner, seen by many to have had a frosty relationship with Verstappen, was recently sacked. 'Of course, you can't overlook someone like Max and the plans he has for the future,' added Wolff cryptically.
Qatar Tribune
11 hours ago
- Qatar Tribune
England produce another comeback to down Italy and reach Euro final
dpa Geneva Chloe Kelly scored late in extra-time to help England move closer to retaining their European Championship title after another dramatic comeback with a 2-1 victory over Italy in Tuesday's semi-final. England had looked on the way out following Barbara Bonansea's first-half goal until substitute Michelle Agyemang, who levelled late on in the quarter-final against Sweden, repeated the trick six minutes into injury time to make it 1-1. The holders had the better of extra-time, with Agyemang hitting the bar, and were then awarded a contentious spot-kick for a foul on Beth Mead by Emma Severini. Kelly saw her penalty saved but she tapped in the rebound on 119 minutes. 'Unbelievable, such a great feeling,' player of the match Kelly told ITV. 'Three finals on the bounce and we want more. 'It wasn't supposed to go like that with the penalty but I was ready for the rebound. This team shows resilience, we fight back. Hopefully we can make it easier for ourselves.' England boss Sarina Wiegman has now reached five finals in five major tournaments, including the first two in her previous role in charge of her native Netherlands. The Lionesses will meet Spain, who beat them in the 2023 World Cup final, or Germany in a repeat of the Euro 2022 showpiece in Sunday in Basel. The Spanish take on record Euro champions Germany in Zurich on Wednesday. Wiegman dropped Jess Carter to the bench. The defender, who struggled in the win over Sweden, had revealed at the weekend that she has been the target of racist abuse on social media throughout the tournament. She came on for the closing stages. Carter had previously started every game, but was replaced by Esme Morgan, who made a first major tournament start alongside fit-again captain Leah Williamson in central defence. Kelly, who changed the game as a substitute in the quarter-final with Sweden, also began on the bench again. Surprise pick Italy beat the Norwegians late on in the quarter-final and swapped Severini for Martina Lenzini in a new back three to take on England. The Azzurre, who lost to Norway and Germany in the 1993 and 1997 finals, were on the back foot early on as England made a much better start than against the Swedes. Lauren James had a prodded finish saved and Alessia Russo, who has Italian roots, fired wide. Italy's final ball was initially lacking and England stopper Hannah Hampton, who starred in the epic penalty shoot-out against Sweden, was largely untroubled in the first quarter. But on 33 minutes, a well-worked move fell for the experienced Bonansea, who thrashed home into the roof of the net. England had paid the price for letting their early energy drop and tried to rouse themselves, with James wasting a good opportunity. The physical Italians looked tactically solid and England threw on Mead for an injured James at the interval to try to break through. Lauren Hemp had two decent chances as England pushed hard in the second half, but it looked like there was to be no comeback like against Sweden, especially as Italy almost scored a second on 86. Teenage forward Agyemang had other ideas and expertly pounced when Italy keeper Laura Giuliani, in a rare slip by the Azzurre, made a hash of a cross. The 19-year-old Brighton player had been a surprise pick in the Euro squad and fellow substitute Kelly sealed the win at the death despite Giuliani's best efforts. Italy coach Andrea Soncin said: 'We feel so much pride, the girls should be proud of what they did, going out like this hurts but having stood up to the champions gives us confidence for the future. 'There are no words to describe the emotions, we definitely deserved a different ending, we are sorry but we are very proud.'
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Qatar Tribune
Rory McIlroy switches focus to being at top form for Ryder Cup
London: Rory McIlroy is resetting his focus and his schedule in order to be on top form for Europe's defence of the Ryder Cup. Finishing a distant seventh to Open champion and world number one Scottie Scheffler was not how the Northern Irishman wanted to end his major season, especially on home soil at Royal Portrush. But having shown he is over the blip he encountered after his Masters win, which completed the career Grand Slam in April, the 36-year-old is keen to save his best for Bethpage in New York this September. He still has the FedEx Cup play-offs to come in August but his real motivation comes the following month and that is why he will not be playing much as he looks to retain his sharpness. 'I feel like being back in Europe for a bit was a nice reset,' said McIlroy. 'I feel like I'm getting back to where I want to be and we've still got a lot of golf left this year with obviously Ryder Cup being the big one in there in September. II don't want to play too much leading up to that because I want to be fresh. I'll reflect on what's been already a good year and start to get myself ready for that run up to the Ryder Cup.' (PA Media/DPA)
