Latest news with #TenHag
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Granit Xhaka agrees Premier League return after being 'annoyed and upset' by Erik ten Hag
Granit Xhaka is heading back to the Premier League with Sunderland as the Bayer Leverkusen star finalises an exit after being left angered by Erik ten Hag's approach Sunderland have agreed a deal with Bayer Leverkusen that will see Granit Xhaka return to the Premier League with the Black Cats - two years after leaving Arsenal. The Swiss midfielder has become a German champion since he's been away but will now link up with the newly promoted side. Sunderland have secured his services in a £17million deal, £13m of that being paid up front with a further £4m to come in add-ons, according to multiple reports. Xhaka agreed personal terms with the club last week ahead of signing a three-year deal. Sunderland saw an earlier offer rejected but end up increasing their total package by £7m to get the transfer over the line. The switch means that Erik ten Hag has lost yet another major figure at Leverkusen despite not even taking charge of a competitive match yet. The ex- Manchester United boss was hired to replace Xabi Alonso but has not endeared himself to all of his players. Bild previously reported that Ten Hag made a deliberate effort to give his new Leverkusen players time and space before contacting them for the first time. However that approach was not been universally well received with Xhaka among those to take issue with the new manager's decision to remain silent. Ten Hag only made contact with the former Arsenal midfielder three weeks after his appointment. That lack of communication saw the Swiss star question his future and he's since chosen to seek pasture new. The former United boss attempted to underlined how important he felt the 32-year-old would be to his plans moving forward, but the damage was ultimately done. Despite evidently frustrating Xhaka with his approach the Dutchman, who is out to prove himself after a poor end to his stint in Manchester, had defiantly claimed that the Swiss midfielder was going nowhere despite his agent admitting a deal with Sunderland was done. Ten Hag said: "His agent can say whatever he wants, but this club has already let three important players (Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Jonathan Tah) go, and we won't let any more go," It is the last blow for the Bundesliga outfit, who have lost a number of the leading lights who helped them claim the league title just over a year ago. Wirtz has left in a British-record deal for Liverpool, which has banked Leverkusen more than £100m. Frimpong has followed him to Anfield. Tah made the move to rivals Bayern Munich. With the huge funds raised the German side have managed to bring in Jarell Quansah from Liverpool with the defender highly thought of. Malik Tillman is another of their major signings, making the move from PSV.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Erik ten Hag's former assistant reveals what 'disappointed' him about his two years at Man United
Erik ten Hag 's former assistant manager - Mitchell van der Gaag - has opened up about his time at Manchester United. Van der Gaag served under Ten Hag after following him from Ajax to Old Trafford in 2022, helping the Red Devils win the EFL Cup and the FA Cup in his two seasons at the club. After a shake-up of United's coaching team in the summer of 2024 - which saw Ruud van Nistelrooy replace him as assisant - Van der Gaag left the club in July that year to pursue a managerial role elsewhere. The 53-year-old was unveiled as FC Zurich's new head coach this May, signing a two-year deal with the Swiss side. Van der Gaag described his tenure at United as a 'wonderful' period, but admitted there was one major disappointment that stuck with him from the two-year spell. 'I look back on my time at Manchester United positively,' he told Givemesport. 'I think it was two wonderful years. They were very positive and I learned a lot. 'The first year was very positive because we finished in third place, won the Carabao Cup and went to the FA Cup final. 'I think the only disappointment, in my opinion, was that we could have been better in the Europa League. But I think the first year was very positive, so everyone expected that we could improve in the second season.' United bowed out of the Europa League in 2023-24 after a humiliating 5-2 aggregate defeat by Sevilla in the quarter-finals. After taking a 2-0 lead in the first leg at Old Trafford, United collapsed late on, conceding twice in the final ten minutes to leave the tie level at 2-2. But the second leg in Spain proved a disaster, with Ten Hag's side slumping to a 3-0 defeat. In his debut season, Ten Hag brought renewed optimism to Old Trafford. United finished third in the Premier League, clinched the Carabao Cup and reached the FA Cup final. But despite the silverware, his second year presented a host of challenges. United struggled to an eighth-place finish in the Premier League and exited the Champions League at the group stage. In the end, United salvaged their campaign with a dramatic win over Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley - a triumph that, Van der Gaag said, helped put a more positive spin on a turbulent year. He added: 'That was a very strange season [2023-24]. We were not good enough in the Premier League or Champions League. There were very strange results as well because there were games we were winning comfortably and then drawing or losing. 'But, in the end, we won the FA Cup. It puts everything in a positive way, so that was important. 'They were two years when I learned a lot, especially about the way the Premier League functions, the way football is played and the tactical variations. It was something that I really enjoyed.' Ten Hag was dismissed last October with Man United lying 14th in the Premier League after winning just four of their opening 14 matches. His departure came despite the club triggering a one-year contract extension last summer. The Dutchman had previously served as coach of Bayern Munich's second team between 2015 and 2017. Ten Hag then enjoyed an impressive spell at Utrecht, before leading Ajax to three consecutive Dutch titles and the 2019 Champions League semi-finals. At United, Ten Hag won 70 of his 128 games in charge - a 54.69 per cent win rate - the third-highest win rate of any manager to oversee 100 or more games in the club's history. The 55-year-old now manages Bayer Leverkusen, having succeeded Xabi Alonso in May.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Xabi Alonso slammed as 'very disappointed' Bayer Leverkusen player reveals he would have asked for transfer had Real Madrid boss not left
Hofmann frustrated by lack of dialogue Ten Hag arrival seen as fresh chance Leverkusen ace nearly pushed for move Follow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱 WHAT HAPPENED? The 33-year-old midfielder has publicly criticised the former Leverkusen manager for lacking direct communication after he was relegated to a fringe role in the second half of the 2024-25 season. He told Kolner Stadt-Anzeiger that he expected 'open and honest' dialogue and was disappointed by the Spaniard's approach. THE BIGGER PICTURE While Alonso's tenure at Leverkusen was widely hailed for its historic Bundesliga title win, Hofmann's comments reveal underlying tensions behind the scenes. The midfielder made 46 appearances in 2023-24, but barely featured the following season, starting just four league games. His frustration suggests that not all players thrived under Alonso's leadership, despite the team's success. With new coach Erik ten Hag in place, the player is ready to fight for his place in the starting XI. WHAT HOFMANN SAID Hofmann targeted the former Leverkusen coach's leadership style, specifically his lack of clear communication with players during difficult periods. "I expect a coach to address something directly when he notices something. I expect open and direct communication. A coach shouldn't wait longer than two weeks for this, because as a coach, I want the players to be in top shape to raise the training level. There's always a need for competition, that's clear. I would have expected a bit more from the coach." He added: "New coach, new opportunity. I'm a Bundesliga kid. I'm fighting my way back. I feel comfortable, but under Xabi Alonso, I probably would have considered a move. Personally, I'm putting last season in a box and don't want to take it out again. It was very disappointing for me, what happened there and how it played out. That's not what I'm aiming for." WHAT NEXT FOR HOFMANN & ALONSO? Hofmann is determined to regain his form under Ten Hag, while Alonso's challenge at Real Madrid may demand improved player relationships if the Leverkusen player's complaints are correct.
News18
23-07-2025
- Sport
- News18
'The Agent Can Say Anything': Bayer Leverkusen Boss Erik Ten Hag Steadfast On Retaining Granit Xhaka
Ten Hag opined that the club had already lost a couple of key players in the transfer market and would like to hold on to the 32-year-old midfielder. Bayer Leverkusen head coach Erik Ten Hag stated his intent to hold on to midfielder Granit Xhaka following talk of the Swiss star's exit from the Bundesliga giants made the rounds online a day earlier. Ten Hag, who replaced Xabi Alonso at the German outfit, opined that the club has already lost a couple of key players in the transfer market and would like to hold on to the 32-year-old midfielder. 'The agent can say anything. But this club has already lost three important players," the Dutchman said. Leverkusen had to endure the departures of star midfielder Florian Wirtz, fullback Jeremie Frimpong, as the duo joined Premier League champions Liverpool, and stopper back Jonathan Tah made the switch to Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich. 'We won't let any more players go, that's not possible," he revealed his desire to hold on to the existing members of the squad. 'That would neglect the structure and also the culture of the squad," the 55-year-old head coach explained. 'It's clear – Granit is a leader, he has signed here for five years and has three years left on his contract," the former Manchester United boss said. 'He's too important for us to let him go," he concluded. Ten Hag, who had to endure a testing period at Premier League side Manchester United after a glorious stint at Dutch unit Ajax. The Dutchman had to witness a shambolic performance form the German side in his first game in charge of the 2023/24 champions as Leverkusen went down 1-5 in tame fashion to Brazilian side Flamengo's U20 unit in a behind-closed doors friendly. The former Ajax boss will look for a turn of fortunes as he gears up for a string of club friendlies at the helm of Die Werkself. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
New Straits Times
23-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Xhaka too important for Leverkusen to let go, Ten Hag says
LONDON: Granit Xhaka is a key figure for Bayer Leverkusen and the Bundesliga side cannot afford to let the Swiss midfielder leave, manager Erik ten Hag said amid reports linking him to a move to Sunderland. Leverkusen have already lost playmaker Florian Wirtz and defender Jeremie Frimpong to Premier League champions Liverpool, while centre back Jonathan Tah has moved to Bayern Munich. Former Arsenal man Xhaka has been linked with a move to Sunderland, with his agent telling German media the 32-year-old Switzerland skipper has an agreement in principle with the newly-promoted Premier League club. "The agent can say anything. But this club has already lost three important players," Ten Hag told German media on Tuesday. "We won't let any more players go, that's not possible. That would neglect the structure and also the culture of the squad. "It's clear — Granit is a leader, he has signed here for five years and has three years left on his contract. He's too important for us to let him go." Xhaka helped Leverkusen secure the double in the 2023-24 season as they lifted their first Bundesliga title without losing a game, won the German Cup and reached the Europa League final. He has made 99 appearances for Leverkusen, scoring six goals and registering nine assists. Former Manchester United manager Ten Hag replaced Xabi Alonso in May after the Spaniard left to manage his former club Real Madrid.--REUTERS
