'Demanding' Ten Hag has Leverkusen on right track, says Schick

Patrik Schick believes Bayer Leverkusen are on the right track under "demanding" Erik ten Hag.

Xabi Alonso left Leverkusen at the end of last season following a successful two-and-a-half-year spell in charge of the Bundesliga club.

He led them to the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in 2023-24, going unbeaten during their domestic season and only losing the Europa League final to Atalanta.

They did not manage to defend either of those titles last season but pushed Bayern Munich to nearly the end of the season as they finished second.

Following Alonso's departure for Real Madrid, Ten Hag took over at Leverkusen, returning to management for the first time since being sacked by Manchester United last October.

His first match in charge ended in a heavy 5-1 pre-season defeat to Flamengo's Under-20s last week.

Despite that result, though, Schick is confident that Leverkusen will be in a good position by the start of the Bundesliga season.

"He knows what he wants from the team and has won titles already," Schick told kicker. "He knows what he is doing.

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"He is demanding a lot from us and wants us to play with high intensity. He also knows where he wants to play me, how he would like to see me play and which positions he can see me taking.

"In my point of view, we [Schick and Victor Boniface] should have played more together, especially last season. We have different qualities, and that combination could work well together."

Leverkusen have had a bit of an overhaul this transfer window, with Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong both leaving for Liverpool, the former becoming the Reds' club-record signing. Jonathan Tah left for Bayern, while Granit Xhaka is reportedly close to a return to the Premier League with Sunderland.

The Werkself have added reinforcements though, bringing in the likes of Mark Flekken, Jarell Quansah and Malick Tillman.

Schick confirmed he was in talks to extend his contract, despite drawing interest from clubs after netting 27 goals in all competitions last season.

He stressed that a place in the top four was Leverkusen's aim for the season but acknowledged "a lot will depend on how our squad looks at the end of the summer".