Erik ten Hag's debut in the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen ended in disappointment as Hoffenheim secured a 2-1 victory at the BayArena. Despite an early lead, Leverkusen couldn't maintain their advantage, handing Ten Hag a losing start to his league campaign.

Taking over from Xabi Alonso, who departed for Real Madrid after leading Leverkusen to a domestic double in the previous season, Ten Hag faces a significant challenge in rebuilding the squad. Key players such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah, and Granit Xhaka have all left the club, necessitating a major overhaul. Leverkusen's lack of cohesion and precision in the final third, along with the absence of Tah's defensive presence, were evident in the defeat against Hoffenheim.

Leverkusen started brightly, with Jarell Quansah, one of the new signings from Liverpool, heading in a free-kick in the sixth minute. However, Hoffenheim responded well, with Fisnik Asllani equalizing in the 25th minute after capitalizing on a defensive error. Tim Lemperle then scored the winning goal for the visitors in the 52nd minute, drilling a low shot from 22 meters.

Ten Hag acknowledged the need for improvement and emphasized the importance of remaining calm and continuing to work hard. He pointed out that the team needs time to find its rhythm after the departure of several key players. Despite the defeat, Ten Hag saw some positives, noting that the team didn't concede too many chances at the back and showed fighting spirit until the end.

The loss highlighted the scale of the rebuild Ten Hag faces at Leverkusen. The team's performance was a far cry from the dominant displays under Xabi Alonso, who led them to an undefeated Bundesliga title and a German Cup win in the 2023-24 season. The German media has also noted the differences between Ten Hag's team and Alonso's, pointing out the lack of high-intensity football and supply to striker Patrik Schick.

Leverkusen has welcomed 14 new faces to the squad, including Malik Tillman from PSV Eindhoven, Jarell Quansah from Liverpool, Loic Bade, and Ernest Poku. Ten Hag has urged his new team to build a new era at the club, emphasizing the importance of team spirit and the integration of new players into the club's culture.

Other Bundesliga teams also saw new coaches making their debuts. Sandro Wagner's Augsburg secured a 3-1 victory against Freiburg, while Paul Simonis led Wolfsburg to a 3-1 win over Heidenheim. Ilyas Ansah scored twice on his debut for Union Berlin, helping them defeat Stuttgart 2-1. Bayern Munich, the defending champions, started their season with a 6-0 victory over RB Leipzig.

Leverkusen will aim to bounce back from the defeat when they travel to Werder Bremen next weekend. Ten Hag will be looking for a response from his players as they continue to adapt to his system and build a new identity following the departure of key figures. The road ahead will be challenging, but Ten Hag remains committed to creating a successful new era at Bayer Leverkusen.