LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Erik ten Hag lasted three games at Bayer Leverkusen.

The Dutch coach was fired on Monday after doubts emerged in Leverkusen over the former Manchester United manager’s ability to oversee the German team’s successful rebuild after a summer exodus of key players.

“This decision wasn’t easy for us,” Leverkusen sports director Simon Rolfes said in a statement. "Nobody wanted to take this step. But the last few weeks showed that building a new and successful team with this set-up could not be achieved effectively. We firmly believe in the quality of our team and will now do everything in our power to take the next steps in our development with a new constellation.”

Leverkusen was beaten 2-1 at home on Ten Hag’s Bundesliga debut by Hoffenheim, then squandered a two-

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