Chaos at Bayer Leverkusen: Andrich criticizes team after penalty dispute!

Chaos at Bayer Leverkusen: Andrich criticizes team after penalty dispute!

Excitement in Leverkusen: Bayer 04 let a 3-1 lead slip away in the game against Werder Bremen and only ended up drawing. In the BayArena at home on September 2, 2025, the game ended 3-3 after Leverkusen were unable to exploit their advantage in the second half with a yellow-red card for Werder's Niklas Stark (63'). Instead, it was Bremen who equalized after a penalty from Patrik Schick in the 64th minute and another goal from Isaac Schmidt in the 76th minute. The last goal came from Karim Coulibaly in stoppage time (90+4) and caused complete disappointment for Leverkusen.

The Leverkusen captain, Robert Andrich, gave vent to his frustration. In the press conference that followed, he questioned the players' behavior and emphasized that many were only looking after their own concerns. “There is something going on,” said Andrich and called for better team play. Coach Erik ten Hag, whose position is under increasing pressure, agreed and described his players' behavior as unacceptable. In this context, he spoke of a “big change” in the team, which seems necessary given the numerous changes in the squad.

Signs of unrest

The dissatisfaction at Bayer Leverkusen is not new. After just two games this season, there is a red alert and the public perception of the team is anything but positive. Michael Ballack has already expressed concern about the unrest surrounding the team and made it clear that a rethink needs to take place. “The team is perceived as a collection of individualists,” Sport1 also speculates about the current situation, which is not least due to the absence of several key players.

Erik ten Hag, who only recently took over as coach, faces a difficult challenge. It is reported that the club's management could decide on his future after the transfer window, although a dismissal after just two Bundesliga games cannot be ruled out. Internally there is already criticism of his communication and cooperation with his assistant coaches. Ten Hag has also publicly called for reinforcements, which contributes to the discontent in the team.

Team dynamics under the microscope

The extent to which coaching changes influence a team's performance is often discussed in science. Studies show that around half of coaching changes in leagues can lead to a short-term increase in performance. This is often related to overcoming dissatisfaction within the team. Sebastian Zart, sports scientist at the TU Kaiserslautern, emphasizes that positive effects can last up to 16 match days after the change. Zart and his colleague Arne Güllich analyzed 150 coaching changes and demonstrated that there are definitely ways out of crisis situations, but there is also a need to give coaches time for a long-term concept.

The question in Leverkusen is now whether those responsible will keep an eye on the big picture or act hastily based on short-term results. It is clear that a lot has to change so that Bayer 04 can play in the top regions of the table again.

Given the diverse challenges the team faces, the upcoming match day will be crucial for the future of Erik ten Hag and his charges. The situation in Leverkusen remains tense - there is only one thing that can help: getting up together as a team.

For more information on what happened in the game and the current situation at Bayer 04 Leverkusen, read the full reports World and Sports1. Equally interesting are the comments on coaching changes and their effects in the Bundesliga BR can find.