Football | Bundesliga: Crisis symptoms and pain at Bayer Leverkusen

It took a while before Mark Flekken's first words as Bayer Leverkusen 's new crisis explainer emanated. On the one hand, the goalkeeper, who moved to Leverkusen from Brentford, is unfamiliar with this role. On the other hand, he certainly didn't expect to have to provide explanations so early in the season for a performance that surprised almost all observers with its disappointing nature.

Not much good

Crisis may be a big term for the circumstances of the 2024 champions' 2-1 defeat in their Bundesliga opener against TSG Hoffenheim. But the visible symptoms were very reminiscent of the classic football phenomenon of persistent failure, which usually only hits the first clubs later in the season. "It wasn't all bad," said Flekken, but he also saw "definitely not much good" in the performance of the gutted former super team .

Some in the crowd, lacking hope for an equalizer, went home minutes before the final whistle. Others whistled. The core of the supporters offered consoling applause. But the pain, which until now had been more of an inkling , erupted in full force on this Saturday. Everyone present had to face a bitter reality: Without the traded Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jonathan Tah, Lukas Hradecky, Jeremie Frimpong, and Xabi Alonso, this team only vaguely resembles the greatest era in the club's history , which had ended just a few weeks ago.

No concept

New captain Robert Andrich is a leader, but his play seemed considerably less convincing without his highly talented teammates. "A lot of new things and all the trimmings. But that's no excuse," explained Andrich. Hoffenheim, superior in all areas of the team, fielded seven new signings, while Leverkusen's starting eleven featured only three new players. Bayer were harmless in attack, aside from a few chances from corners and free kicks, and made some serious mistakes at the back. Overall, the team lacked a footballing concept.

Perhaps an improvement can be expected if the experienced, but currently still injured, defender Loïc Badé, who joined from Sevilla FC, can participate. The return of Exequiel Palacios is also urgently desired, and efforts are underway to sign his Argentinian midfield colleague Ezequiel Fernández. A transfer of Eliesse Ben Seghir from Monaco could also be imminent. In the end, the massive squad overhaul will have cost up to €200 million, but there's not even the slightest sign of a cohesive team yet.

Huge deficits

It was "not unexpected" that these upheavals would not lead to immediate success, said coach Erik ten Hag, explaining: "I know from my experience: It takes time. We need every day, and we have to work very hard." But they would have liked a little more speed in the development process. Last week, sporting director Simon Rolfes spoke of seeing "great dynamism in the squad again" after a certain "inertia" at the end of the previous season: "There is a fight for places in the team and for roles within the group. Many players are trying to take advantage of their new freedom." Andrich and Aleix Garcia initially failed to live up to this expectation in central midfield, just as striker Patrik Schick and defender Edmond Tapsoba did not. Arthur and Nathan Tella also remained lackluster on the wings.

Rolfes has clearly acquired a great deal of quality and potential, but the team still has significant deficits when it comes to a new structure. And the coach also seemed a bit shaken by this sobering day when he said: "I can't say how much patience we need. It's just like this: Sometimes things click." That sounds more like hope than a truly clear plan.