Erik ten Hag forced to Copy Xabi At Leverkusen: Erik ten Hag has ditched his trademark back-four setup just weeks into his Bayer Leverkusen tenure, opting instead to continue with the 3-4-2-1 structure that Xabi Alonso left behind.
Erik ten Hag forced to Copy Xabi At Leverkusen
After internal discussions with sporting director Simon Rolfes, the Dutchman has begun drilling the squad in Alonso’s system, a formation that morphs into a 3-2-5 in possession and underpinned Leverkusen’s historic Bundesliga title run last season.
The shift is less an ideological turn than a tactical necessity. With Alonso gone to Madrid and the squad still tailored to his methods, Ten Hag has been persuaded to adapt rather than overhaul. Any attempt to revert to a 4-3-3, or to bring in traditional wide players, would have forced a major rebuild, one the club is not prepared for amid ongoing departures.
“I believe it’s a good system,” Rolfes told BILD. “It gives us stability, and we have the players for it.”
That claim will now be tested in real time. Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka and Florian Wirtz, four of Alonso’s cornerstones, are either sold or in the exit queue. Yet Ten Hag has committed to the shape, with recruitment now focused on reinforcing the back three, particularly with a vocal, experienced centre-half.
Alonso’s setup worked by design, not just improvisation. A back three secured build-up play, while the width came from wing-backs pushing high. The double pivot locked down transitions. The front five occupied every channel across the pitch. Leverkusen didn’t just win, they controlled the terms.
Ten Hag will not try to outdo that by ripping it up. Instead, he’ll aim to evolve it quietly, adding his pressing triggers, perhaps tweaking roles, but staying within the architecture that delivered results.
It’s an unusual concession for a manager known for system fidelity. But at Leverkusen, the system already has a memory. Ten Hag’s job now is to work within it, or risk being swallowed by it.
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