Tella: Leverkusen Start Fresh Under Hjulmand After Early Frustration

Bayer Leverkusen forward Nathan Tella has admitted the squad felt frustrated with their slow start to the season, telling ESPN: “As a team, I don’t want to say embarrassed but we were angry at ourselves.”

The Nigerian winger insisted the arrival of new manager Kasper Hjulmand has restored confidence within the squad, helping them unlock the quality they know they possess. “Some of the players who are still here and the new players who have come in know the quality of the team,” he said. “And we weren’t able to show it… I think Kasper coming in gave us a lift.”

Reflecting on Leverkusen’s 3–1 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt their first Bundesliga win of the season Tella stressed the importance of staying grounded. “We want to focus on ourselves, we don’t want to get carried away after our first win … It was a game which we needed to show a reaction and get a big result.”

Tella, who was substituted in the 83rd minute, also said the players had spoken individually to reflect on their earlier performances. “We knew the standard which we have for ourselves wasn’t as good as we know it can be. We spoke to ourselves individually … we need to show reaction.”

With the win now behind them, Tella says Leverkusen must build on the momentum under Hjulmand as they look to turn their season around.

Editorial

We are struck by how candid Nathan Tella’s remarks were his admission that the Leverkusen squad felt “angry” rather than embarrassed speaks volumes about the internal pressure facing elite teams when form falters. This is not merely a case of missing results; it reflects a deeper sense of underachievement among players who clearly know their own potential. The emotional burden of underperforming can be as heavy as any tactical deficit, and far more corrosive if left unaddressed.

We think the switch in coaching staff—from Erik ten Hag to Kasper Hjulmand was always going to be a psychological as much as a tactical experiment. For Leverkusen, playing under a coach who can reinvigorate belief and confidence may be just as critical as any change in formation or training regimen. It’s one thing to have quality on paper it’s another entirely to believe in that quality on the pitch.

Yet, performance recovery is rarely linear. The danger now is in complacency—believing that one win, however cathartic, is sufficient to erase earlier shortcomings or mask deeper issues. Tella’s emphasis on not getting carried away is apt. This momentum must be carefully managed and built upon. One reactionary victory does not rewrite a season, but it can serve as a launchpad if it’s treated as such.

We are hopeful that Leverkusen can maintain discipline as much as intensity. If Hjulmand can consolidate the squad’s resolve, channel their anger into consistent results, and maintain their composure under pressure, this team might just steer itself back toward the top of Bundesliga contention. Their ability to do so may very well hinge on whether this squad continues to fight and evolve rather than simply hope.

Did You Know?

1. Nathan Tella joined Bayer Leverkusen in August 2023 on a five-year deal from Southampton, following a successful loan stint at Burnley.
2. The 3–1 win over Eintracht Frankfurt marked Leverkusen’s first Bundesliga victory of the 2025–26 season, ending a poor run that led to the dismissal of Erik ten Hag.
3. Despite finishing with nine men after two red cards, Leverkusen held on to win, illustrating their resilience under pressure.
4. Nathan Tella has two senior caps for Nigeria, having made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2023.
5. Kasper Hjulmand, who took over Leverkusen in early September 2025, was previously the head coach of the Denmark national team.