BERLIN :Bayer Leverkusen are still in the construction stage of building a competitive team and more time is needed to complete the project, said coach Kasper Hjulmand ahead of Saturday's Bundesliga match at St Pauli.

Leverkusen, domestic double winners in 2024 under then coach Xabi Alonso, have struggled this season without the Spaniard and a string of key players who left he club, including Florian Wirtz, Jonathan Tah, Granit Xhaka and Jeremie Frimpong.

They are 11th in the league on five points, seven behind leaders Bayern Munich after four games, and two behind fifth-placed St Pauli.

Following the sacking of Erik ten Hag after only two Bundesliga matches, they appointed former Denmark coach Hjulmand on September 8, and he has since recorded a win and a draw in his two league games i

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