Kasper Hjulmand could reignite Leverkusen’s fire
Xabi Alonso’s departure from Bayer Leverkusen was inevitable at the end of last season, especially after leading the club to a stunning Bundesliga / German Cup double during the 2023/24 campaign.
Sporting Director Simon Rolfes subsequently hired Erik ten Hag to succeed the Spaniard, but that decision proved to be a disaster.
It appeared to be a strange move in the first place, with Ten Hag’s style evidently not suiting Leverkusen. In the end, he managed just three games for Leverkusen, losing to Hoffenheim and drawing with Werder Bremen in the Bundesliga.
Rolfes admitted that hiring Ten Hag was a mistake, but allowing him to remain in charge would have been “an even bigger mistake”.
As such, former Denmark boss Kasper Hjulmand was the man tasked with leading Leverkusen’s revival.
Ahead of Die Werkself’s Champions League clash against PSV (tonight), how has the new man in charge fared across his first few weeks in the job?
More importantly, can he return the club to challenging for trophies?
Kasper Hjulmand has breathed new life into Bayer Leverkusen
Under Alonso, Leverkusen were a well drilled unit who simply didn’t know when they were beaten, especially during their double-winning campaign.
His possession-based system was built on width, structure and fluid attacking transitions, relying on wing-backs to stretch the play and creative attacking midfielders such as Florian Wirtz to make things happen in the final third.
Following his departure, several players who were fundamental to his success have also left. Indeed, Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Victor Boniface, Granit Xhaka and Piero Hincapié moved on during the summer transfer window just gone.
Hjulmand was certainly walking into an intense challenge, but so far, he has shown there might be life after Alonso after all.
Indeed, his tactical style is similar to that of the current Real Madrid boss, focusing heavily on possession-based play while utilising the wide options at his disposal.
It is perhaps no surprise, then, that the Dane has steadied the ship after a poor start to the season.
He led the club to a solid 3-1 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt on his debut, before drawing against FC Copenhagen and Borussia Mönchengladbach in the Champions League and Bundesliga respectively.
Operating with a 3-4-2-1 system that was often on show under Alonso, Hjulmand sealed his second league win last weekend against FC St. Pauli. Despite being pegged back in the first half, a second half strike by Ernest Poku was enough to seal all three points, moving Leverkusen up to sixth place in the table.
The PSV clash will be his toughest task yet, but Leverkusen already look a much improved side compared to just a few weeks ago under Ten Hag.
Young stars lighting up the pitch
Losing the core of the double-winning squad was always going to be tough, but Leverkusen’s recruitment in the summer has gone a long way to adding some long-term replacements, bolstered by some emerging young talent.
Poku is an excellent case in point. The 21-year-old winger arrived from AZ Alkmaar and has since scored twice while also registering as assist.
Claudio Echeverri joined on a season-long loan from Manchester City and there is genuine belief he could turn into a world-class player. When compared to other players in his position, the Argentinian teenager ranks in the top 4% for chances created per 90, along with ranking in the top 8% for touches and in the top 1% for attempted shots.
If given opportunities in the starting XI under Hjulmand this season, the former River Plate sensation could emerge as a key player for Leverkusen.
One of their most exciting signings, however, has been Malick Tillman. The American shone during his spell with PSV and was signed as a replacement for Wirtz in the number ten slot.
Across just four Bundesliga matches, Tillman has already scored twice and is settling into life at the club rather well. He could become one of Hjulmand’s star performers as the season goes on.
During his time in charge of the Danish national team, the 53-year-old allowed youngsters such as Rasmus Højlund, Andreas Skov Olsen and Victor Froholdt the chance to showcase their abilities.
Blooding youngsters is nothing new to the Dane and this could see his spell at Leverkusen turn out to be a success.
With plenty of players at his disposal who have the capability to get even better, there is no reason why he cannot get the club to be competitive in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League this season.
No one is expecting a repeat of the 2023/24 campaign, but after quickly replacing Ten Hag with Hjulmand, there is a quiet confidence that Rolfes has made the right decision.
A victory against PSV on Wednesday evening at the BayArena would go a long way to kickstarting a new era at Leverkusen.
An era which could see a new generation of players take centre-stage.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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