'He won two trophies with Man Utd' - Tella defends Ten Hag after Bayer Leverkusen move

 Nathan Tella has come to the defence of incoming Bayer Leverkusen coach Erik ten Hag, calling on critics to appreciate the Dutchman's accomplishments and backing him to succeed in Germany.

Ten Hag, 55, was recently appointed as Leverkusen’s new manager on a two-year deal following the departure of Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid.

While the Dutchman faced mounting criticism during his time at Manchester United, Tella believes his track record speaks volumes.

In an exclusive interview with Flashscore.com, the Nigeria international expressed his excitement at the opportunity to play under Ten Hag, citing his previous achievements both at Ajax and in England.

"I'm looking forward to it (playing for Ten Hag) a lot. I think he is a very good manager," Tella said.

"I know, obviously, people are short-sighted and look at only what he's done at Man United, but people forget he's won two trophies with them, and what he did with Ajax."

Ten Hag guided Ajax to three Eredivisie titles and a memorable UEFA Champions League semi-final run in 2019, earning widespread acclaim for his attacking style and player development. 

His move to Manchester United in 2022 was seen as a major step, and though his tenure ended with the team struggling in the Premier League, Tella insists the Dutchman's qualities remain intact.

"To even get a job at Manchester United from Ajax, it shows he must be doing something incredible," Tella continued.

"And even (though) it didn't go the way perhaps people wanted it to go, but then to get a job at Leverkusen shows you that he's such a high-quality manager because of the manager he's coming in to replace."

With high expectations following Alonso’s historic campaign during the 2023-24 season, Ten Hag faces the challenge of building on that success.

However, with the support of key players like Tella, the former Manchester United boss will hope to make an immediate impact in Germany.

Wale Adejumo

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