Brad Friedel Endorses Erik Ten Hag's Move To Bayer Leverkusen As Xabi Alonso's Successor

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Brad Friedel anticipates Erik ten Hag will thrive in his new role at Bayer Leverkusen. Ten Hag, who was dismissed by Manchester United in October after over two seasons, has taken over from Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen. Alonso led the team to their first Bundesliga title before moving to Real Madrid.

Friedel believes that Ten Hag is a suitable choice for the German club. He mentioned, "So a lot of what went on wasn't going to be down to just Erik ten Hag at Manchester United. So I can understand the move on both sides." The former Ajax coach steps into a stable environment left by Alonso, similar to Jurgen Klopp's departure from Liverpool for Arne Slot.

Ten Hag's tenure at Manchester United saw mixed results. Despite winning two trophies, the team's defensive metrics were poor. During his time, United conceded 112 goals and had one of the worst expected goals against (xGA) records among consistent Premier League teams.

Friedel sees Leverkusen as a wise choice for Ten Hag due to its smaller media spotlight compared to Manchester United. He stated, "I think it's a big club, it's a Champions League club, but it's also a little bit smaller with regards to the media attention and the pressure."

The decision to appoint Ten Hag is seen as slightly risky for Leverkusen but not unfounded. Friedel commented on this by saying, "I think publicly it's a little bit more risky for Leverkusen, but not bad." He acknowledges Ten Hag's capabilities despite challenges faced at United.

Since Ten Hag's departure, Manchester United has struggled further. They finished 15th in the Premier League, marking their lowest position ever and lost to Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League final.

Friedel draws parallels between Klopp's transition from Liverpool and Alonso's move from Leverkusen. Both clubs were left in good condition for their successors. Friedel remarked that there is no need for drastic changes at Leverkusen under Ten Hag's leadership.

This new chapter offers Ten Hag an opportunity to rebuild his reputation after his stint at Manchester United. With less pressure and more stability at Leverkusen, he has a chance to demonstrate his managerial skills effectively.