Tag: Kasper Hjulmand

Bayer Leverkusen are still in the construction stage of building a competitive team and more time is needed to complete the project, said coach Kasper Hjulmand ahead of Saturday’s Bundesliga match at St Pauli.

Leverkusen, domestic double winners in 2024 under then coach Xabi Alonso, have struggled this season without the Spaniard and a string of key players who left the club, including Florian Wirtz, Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka and Jeremie Frimpong.

They are 11th  in the league on five points, seven behind leaders Bayern Munich after four games, and two behind fifth-placed St Pauli.

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Following the sacking of Erik ten Hag after only two Bundesliga matches, they appointed former Denmark coach Hjulmand on September 8, and he has since recorded a win and a draw in his two league games in charge.

“It is a process. We need time and we need matches and they are coming,” Hjulmand told a press conference. “We are very optimistic and I think we have a great team. We can build an outstanding team but we are still building it up. A lot of new players, new coaches, that’s how it is. But in every game we have to get results.”

Bayer Leverkusen have enough quality in the squad to deliver top performances despite a summer overhaul and a rocky start to the Bundesliga season, new coach Kasper Hjulmand said on Wednesday.

Hjulmand has his work cut out with Leverkusen having failed to record a league win so far and with the in-form Eintracht Frankfurt visiting tomorrow.

“It is a big challenge because in football you need processes to make that work,” Hjulmand told a press conference. “You don’t push a button. You have to work every day and create.

“There is so much quality. We are looking to make that work and tick. Suddenly, it will hopefully explode. We don’t know when. Until then we will have good minutes, bad minutes … and make it work.”

Leverkusen lost their opening league fixture 2-1 at home to Hoffenheim before drawing 3-3 with 10-man Werder Bremen, leading to Ten Hag’s departure.

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The Dutchman had replaced Xabi Alonso in May after the Spaniard left to take over at Real Madrid.

Leverkusen secured the double in the 2023-24 season under Alonso, winning their first Bundesliga title without losing a game, capturing the German Cup and reaching the Europa League final.

However, a summer exodus of key players including Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka and Amine Adli has made the task of building on Alonso’s success an uphill battle.

Leverkusen spent around 170 million euros ($198 million) to rebuild their squad, bringing in Ibrahim Maza, Malik Tillman, Jarell Quansah, Loic Bade, Mark Flekken among others.

“If you want to be a top team you have to be good at almost all facets of the game,” the 53-year-old Hjulmand said. “I have the feeling I can be myself here. I don’t have to explain how I want to play football, how to lead.

“There have been changes but also very, very good players are left. It is up to us to create a fantastic team on and off the pitch,” he added.

Bayer Leverkusen have appointed former Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand as their new coach on a two-year contract following the dismissal of Erik ten Hag, according to  the Bundesliga club.

Hjulmand, 53, guided Denmark to the semi-finals of Euro 2020, where they lost in extra time to England, and stepped down after their 2-0 defeat by Germany in the last 16 of Euro 2024, ending a four-year spell.

The Dane previously coached Mainz 05 in the 2014-15 Bundesliga season and has now returned to German football to take over last season’s runners-up Leverkusen.

“I have always regarded Bayer Leverkusen as a very well-run, well-structured and highly ambitious club. This impression has been confirmed in recent days,” Hjulmand said.

“It is an honour to be entrusted with such a team. The task greatly motivates me, and after outstanding successes in the past, I am eager to shape the future of Bayer Leverkusen together with both proven and exciting new players.”

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Ten Hag was sacked after two Bundesliga matches. The Dutchman, who had been out of management since his sacking by Manchester United in October, replaced Xabi Alonso in May, after the Spaniard left to take over at Real Madrid.

Alonso had led Leverkusen to a double in the 2023-24 campaign where they lifted their first Bundesliga title and their second German Cup without losing a game.

Hjulmand is now tasked with emulating Alonso’s successful spell, a challenge made all the more difficult by the close-season departures of several key players including Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and Granit Xhaka.

Following their exits, Leverkusen spent around 170 million euros ($199.80 million) to rebuild their squad, bringing in Ibrahim Maza, Malik Tillman, Jarell Quansah, Loic Bade, Mark Flekken, among others.

“A newly assembled and developing squad like ours needs clear direction and will benefit from Kasper’s transparent, communicative and empathetic style,” Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro said.

Leverkusen resume their league campaign on Friday at home against Eintracht Frankfurt before visiting Copenhagen on September 18 in their Champions League opener.