Bayer Leverkusen Sporting Director Backs Florian Wirtz to Succeed at Liverpool
Bayer Leverkusen's Simon Rolfes expresses confidence in Florian Wirtz's ability to overcome early struggles at Liverpool. Read more.
“You need a bit of time to adapt, but the feeling was we were not making the steps in the best way...”
Bayer Leverkusen's sporting director, Simon Rolfes, revealed that the club's decision to sack former coach Erik Ten Hag was made early on due to concerns about the team's direction. Ten Hag was let go after just two Bundesliga matches, marking the shortest managerial stint in the league's history.
“If you have the feeling that you're going in the wrong direction, you shouldn't wait until you get there,” Rolfes said, explaining the club's decision-making process. “If it's not a good fit, it's better to split.” This approach allowed Leverkusen to act swiftly and potentially avoid further decline.
Rolfes mentioned that the team wasn't adapting well under Ten Hag, stating, “You need a bit of time to adapt, but the feeling was we were not making the steps in the best way. And it was not getting better fast.” The club's leadership believed that Ten Hag's approach wasn't providing the necessary stability for the players.
Since Ten Hag's departure, Leverkusen has gone unbeaten with three wins and three draws, climbing to fifth in the Bundesliga. Rolfes emphasized that the club wanted “to be fast with this decision,” adding that “most of the time you wait too long, waiting for bad results.”
Erik ten Hag's tenure at Manchester United ended abruptly in October 2024, paving the way for his signing with Bayer Leverkusen in May 2025. Ten Hag inked a two-year deal with the German club, set to run until June 2027, succeeding Xabi Alonso, who departed to take the reins at Real Madrid.
According to Leverkusen's sporting director Simon Rolfes, he had been in touch with Alonso via phone calls as Ten Hag's situation at Manchester United deteriorated. Rolfes' conversations with Alonso provided valuable insight during a critical period for Ten Hag.
In his first game at the helm, Ten Hag's Leverkusen team suffered a harsh 5-1 defeat to Flamengo's under-20 squad in a pre-season friendly held in Brazil. This challenging start marks the beginning of Ten Hag's journey to rebuild and transform the team.
Simon Rolfes described Leverkusen's 5-1 pre-season friendly loss to Flamengo's under-20s as “not good,” a diplomatic assessment of a surprising defeat. Ten Hag's Bundesliga debut, however, was equally unimpressive, with the team losing to Hoffenheim at home.
Their second league match wasn't much better, ending in a 3-3 draw against Werder Bremen. Despite having a 3-1 lead and a man advantage, Leverkusen struggled to hold on, ultimately conceding three points in a match they seemed destined to win.
Rolfes' understated assessment of the pre-season friendly belies the growing concerns about Ten Hag's tactical approach and team management. The results may have been unpredictable, but they exposed underlying issues that Ten Hag needed to address quickly. Leverkusen's inability to capitalize on advantageous situations raised questions about their mental toughness and defensive stability.
“You need a bit of time to adapt, but the feeling was we were not making the steps in the best way. And it was not getting better fast.
“You need the head coach and the coaching staff to give stability to the players and we didn't feel this.”
Bayer Leverkusen's sporting director Simon Rolfes emphasized the club's decisive action in parting ways with Erik ten Hag, stating they aimed “to be fast with this decision.” Rolfes noted that often, clubs wait too long for results to deteriorate before taking action, but Leverkusen chose to act swiftly.
Since Erik Ten Hag's departure, the team has gone unbeaten, securing three wins and three draws across all competitions. This streak has seen Leverkusen climb to fifth place in the Bundesliga standings, providing some respite for the club's management and supporters.
Wirtz's Bright Future Ahead
Bayer Leverkusen's sporting director, Simon Rolfes, believes that midfielder Florian Wirtz will overcome his current challenges at Liverpool. Rolfes thinks Wirtz's transfer from the Bundesliga to the Premier League was the right decision, and he expects the young talent to shine.
🚨🚨💣 EXCLUSIVE: Florian Wirtz to Liverpool, HERE WE GO!
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 10, 2025
Liverpool verbally agree deal in principle with Bayer Leverkusen for package reaching €150m add-ons included.
Player side already agreed two weeks ago with move now imminent.
Wirtz set for medical and contract signing. pic.twitter.com/0j6Bh9qAQ3
Wirtz has struggled to make an impact since joining Liverpool for £100 million, potentially rising to £116 million. Despite playing nine games in the Premier League and Champions League, he hasn't scored any goals or registered an assist. Rolfes' confidence in Wirtz stems from his impressive performances at Leverkusen, where he showcased exceptional skill and vision on the pitch.
Rolfes, who signed Wirtz to Leverkusen in 2020, acknowledged that criticism is “part of the game” for the young midfielder. However, he pointed to data showing Wirtz has created the most chances in the Premier League since joining Liverpool, highlighting his significant contributions despite struggling to score or assist.
Rolfes believes Wirtz's challenges are closely tied to Liverpool's overall performance. He emphasized that the club's issues are impacting individual players, including Wirtz. Despite the criticism, Rolfes remains confident that Wirtz will bounce back and make a significant impact.
“Florian is a team player. And at the moment, they're in the process of creating a team,” Rolfes said.
“When the team is playing more like a team and everyone has his role, Florian's quality will rise.
“There's no doubt he will make it and become a really dominant football player.”
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