Nathan Tella will hope to have a good season with new coach Erik Ten Hag at Bayer Leverkusen
Super Eagles star Nathan Tella has stated that he can play in any position that is asked of him, but he prefers from operate from the wings, Soccernet.ng reports.
Tella joined Bayer Leverkusen from Burnley two years ago, but he doesn’t seem to have settled in to make a mark yet.
The 26-year-old has had some good periods, and his ten goals and 11 assists in 79 games is proof of that. However, since he joined Bayer Leverkusen, he has not gotten a stable playing position.
Former Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, who is a notorious tinker man was fond of moving Tella across different positions on the pitch. The Super Eagles star occasionally played as a wing-back, midfielder, striker, and winger.
But now that Bayer Leverkusen have employed Erik Ten Hag as coach, as a replacement for Alonso, thing will likely change.
The Dutch tactician is not exactly known for tinkering with players’ position. Meanwhile, Tella has sent an indirect message to his coaches that he loves to play from the wings.
“I said a year ago that I’ve always enjoyed playing as an attacking player. Of course, I play wherever the coach puts me and I help the team as best I can,” Tella said, per Werkself Xtra.
“But I know that I can do better as an attacker. We have big ambitions, and I hope I get the chance to prove myself as a winger.
“To do that, I have to give my all in training – and I will. What might give me an advantage is that I can play on both wings.”
At international level, Tella is always deployed as a winger, but he doesn’t seem to have impressed Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle enough, as Samuel Chukwueze and Moses Simon seem like the main men on the right, while Ademola Lookman plays from the left wing.
Next season, Tella will have to prove that he is a winger who can produced the fireworks. If not, Ten Hag might just keep on using him as a utility player or reduce his game time.