LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Erik ten Hag has warned he can't work Harry Potter-style magic to forge a new-look Bayer Leverkusen into a true team as the ex-Manchester United manager prepares for his first game in charge.

Ten Hag's first job since leaving United sees the Dutch coach faced with a major rebuild at Leverkusen following the departure of his title-winning predecessor Xabi Alonso and key players including Florian Wirtz , Jeremie Frimpong and Granit Xhaka .

“I know how to manage processes and you can’t force the process. It’s impossible. No one is like Harry Potter," Ten Hag said on Thursday ahead of his first game on Friday in the German Cup against fourth-tier Sonnenhof Grossaspach.

"Harry, he can really (quickly) construct a team, and in the same time it’s successful,

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