Former Man United boss Erik Ten Hag breaks silence after Boniface SNUB backfires again

Former Manchester United coach Erik Ten Hag has spoken out following another disappointing outing for Bayer Leverkusen, who were held to a dramatic 3-3 draw by ten-man Werder Bremen in a thrilling Bundesliga clash. 

Nigerian Super Eagles forward Victor Boniface was notably absent from the matchday squad despite having returned to training, a factor that continues to weigh on Ten Hag’s search for consistency.

Leverkusen took a commanding lead early in the match, with Patrik Schick opening the scoring just five minutes in after an assist from compatriot Nathan Tella. 

The team extended their advantage when American debutant Malik Tillman volleyed in a second goal. However, Werder Bremen clawed back, with Romano Schmid scoring a penalty before halftime and an additional penalty goal for Schick extending Leverkusen’s lead to 3-1.

Despite Bremen being reduced to ten men following Niklas Stark’s red card, the home side staged a remarkable comeback. 

A calamitous error by Leverkusen’s goalkeeper Mark Flekken allowed Isaac Schmidt to score, and in stoppage time, 18-year-old Karim Coulibaly scored a dramatic equaliser, sealing a heart-stopping 3-3 draw.

Following the match, Ten Hag expressed his disappointment at the outcome, acknowledging the defensive lapses and the frustrating manner in which they conceded goals. 

He said, “We had control of the game in the first half and then conceded an unnecessary goal. The way the game unfolded is not what we expected of ourselves.”

The draw marks Leverkusen’s second consecutive Bundesliga match without a win, including the opening day defeat which also saw Boniface absent amid the club’s intention to send him out on loan. 

Nathan Tella’s bright performance, including his first assist of the season, was a positive takeaway, but it wasn’t enough to deliver Ten Hag’s first victory as Leverkusen’s head coach.

The ex-Manchester United boss now faces the challenge of steadying his side as they head into the international break, with added pressure to integrate players like Boniface back into the squad and find a winning formula quickly.

Boniface’s absence continues to be a talking point as Leverkusen seek to harness the full potential of their squad, with many eager to see the Nigerian forward make a significant impact in upcoming fixtures once fully reintegrated.