- Leverkusen blew two-goal lead against 10-man Bremen
- Captain criticised team-mates for selfish play and poor discipline
- Ten Hag already under pressure amid winless Bundesliga start
Leverkusen captain Andrich has launched a fierce public criticism of his team-mates, accusing them of “playing for themselves” following a disastrous 3-3 draw away to a 10-man Werder Bremen. The club have been plunged into an early-season crisis after surrendering a two-goal lead in the closing stages of the match.
The result leaves new manager Ten Hag without a victory in the Bundesliga and has intensified the pressure on the former Manchester United boss, with German magazine Kicker reporting his job is already under threat. Leverkusen, last season’s runners-up and champions the year prior, underwent a significant squad overhaul in the summer and have shown a severe lack of cohesion. The on-field disarray was perfectly captured when several players argued over who should take a penalty kick while leading 2-1. This comes after the team lost their Bundesliga opener to Hoffenheim.
“Everyone played for themselves, everyone ran around the pitch on their own,” complained Andrich after the 3-3 draw. “We have too many players who are preoccupied with other things or only with themselves. I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced that at Bayer.”
He described the collapse against 10 men as more than a slip-up: “The disastrous final phase was a symbol of our current situation. This has nothing to do with any unrest, player transfers, or legal proceedings.”
On the penalty incident, he added: “That was also a signal to the opponent. They see: They’re leading 2-1, could make it 3-1, and are discussing a penalty first. These are the little things that build up an opponent. We can’t stand around for two minutes and play rock-paper-scissors to see who’s going to take the penalty. That’s one of many things that aren’t going well for us at the moment.”
Leverkusen face a crucial run of fixtures that could determine Ten Hag’s future. They host Eintracht Frankfurt on 12 September before travelling to Borussia Monchengladbach. Following that, their Champions League campaign begins with a trip to Copenhagen. The pressure is now immense on the manager and players to find cohesion and deliver positive results to quell the growing crisis at the club.
