Victor Boniface is unsure about his place in Bayer Leverkusen’s starting eleven, and coach Erik Ten Hag has set the record straight
Bayer Leverkusen coach Erik Ten Hag has told all his players that they are all starting on a clean slate and will have to work hard if they want to be starters, Soccernet.ng reports.
Erik Ten Hag is in his first managerial stint since he was sacked at Manchester United last year. And he has big shoes to fill, as former coach Xabi Alonso set quite a high standard.
When the Dutch tactician arrived, the fate of many players at the club was hanging in the balance, including Super Eagles star Victor Boniface.
The former Royale Union SG man was touted as one of the players that Bayer Leverkusen were looking to sell this summer.
This is as he did not enjoy a lot of game time under Alonso last season, fuelling talks that he was deemed as surplus to requirements. However, it seems he might not leave the club just yet.
Boniface and compatriot Nathan Tella have featured prominently in the club’s pre-season camp, and it does not look like there is any tension between him and his teammates.
But if he will stay, he might have to get assurance of playing time next season, especially as he has stiff competition from Patrik Schick who also wants more game time at Bayer Leverkusen.
Nonetheless, coach Ten Hag has sent a clear message to Boniface and his other Bayer Leverkusen teammates.
The former Manchester United coach has informed them that everyone is on a clean slate and would have to prove their quality if they want to be regular starters.
What Bayer Leverkusen coach Erik Ten Hag said
“We are starting at zero here. The past doesn’t count anymore,” Ten Hag said.
“We have to work really hard, every day. Our mindset must be: Good is not good enough, we need to get better. So we want to create a new era.”
Bayer Leverkusen play their first pre-season game against Flamengo Under 20s on Friday, and they will be looking to start with a win.
There have been talks that Ten Hag might explore a new formation with Victor Boniface and Patrik Schick partnering in the final third.
Boniface will hope that whatever the case is, he regains his place as the first-choice striker for Die Werkself.