Erik ten Hag warned new Bayer Leverkusen stars 'can't match' Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka but Dutch coach is 'not doomed'

Leverkusen legend Carsten Ramelow has warned that the club's new-look squad "can't yet match the quality" of departed stars Florian Wirtz and Granit Xhaka, but has backed new manager Ten Hag to succeed. In an interview with Sport1, the former Germany international stated that while the Dutchman faces a "very difficult" situation following a summer of major upheaval, his plan is "not doomed" and he represents a "good solution" for the club.

Leverkusen have undergone a massive summer rebuild following the departure of title-winning coach Xabi Alonso and a host of key players including Wirtz, Xhaka, Jonathan Tah and Jeremie Frimpong. The exodus was expected after two seasons of unprecedented success that put their top talent on the radar of Europe's biggest clubs. Ramelow has urged for expectations to be lowered as Ten Hag takes charge of a team featuring "many young and inexperienced players."

When backing Ten Hag to succeed in the monumental task of replacing Alonso, Ramelow drew a parallel with Liverpool. He noted that when Jurgen Klopp left Anfield, "everyone thought the world was coming to an end," yet his successor Arne Slot went on to win the Premier League title in his first season, proving that "anything is possible."

On the difficulty of Leverkusen's situation, Ramelow said: "Very difficult indeed. But it's important to evaluate the past two years differently. They were truly special. So exceptionally good and incredibly difficult to top. What's coming next needs to be put into perspective and assessed sensibly. This means: Not everything below first or second place is necessarily bad. Expectations need to be lowered. For everyone—the players, the bosses, and the fans. Nevertheless, they will once again have a team that can compete at the top. I definitely see Leverkusen in the top five."

He added: "The coaching position is crucial. Xabi Alonso quickly recognized what was important and shaped the team. I was particularly impressed by how they never gave up. The team's mentality and attitude were outstanding. The new coach's biggest task now will be to achieve a similar result. However, many young and inexperienced players have joined the team so far. They can't yet match the quality of a Wirtz, Tah, or Xhaka.

"For me, Ten Hag is a good solution. It's fundamentally important to give him a fair chance and avoid comparisons to Alonso. It's not easy to follow in the footsteps of such a successful coach - but that doesn't mean this plan is doomed. I like to think of Liverpool FC and Jürgen Klopp. When he left the Reds, everyone thought the world was coming to an end. In the end, they won the championship with Arne Slot. Anything is possible."

Ten Hag will lead his rebuilt side into the new Bundesliga season, which kicks off this weekend. His immediate challenge is to integrate the new signings and establish his philosophy following the mass exodus of established stars. Ramelow believes Leverkusen can still secure a top-five finish, and their non-participation in this summer's strenuous Club World Cup could prove to be a physical advantage over their rivals as the season progresses.