Leverkusen's Ten Hag Laughs Off Pre-Season Blip, Reaffirms Xhaka's Importance

Bayer Leverkusen’s pre-season tour of Brazil began with an unexpected jolt, as the Bundesliga side succumbed to a resounding 5-1 defeat against Flamengo’s formidable under-20 team on Friday. While such a scoreline might send ripples of concern through any fanbase, new head coach Erik ten Hag appeared remarkably unfazed, even laughing off the result in his post-match comments. His composed demeanor underscored the often-misunderstood nature of pre-season friendlies, highlighting that the focus remains firmly on development and integration rather than immediate outcomes.