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Tapsoba Embraces Leadership Role at Leverkusen Under Ten Hag’s Familiar Tactical Blueprint

As Bayer Leverkusen enters a new chapter under Erik ten Hag, central defender Edmond Tapsoba has drawn intriguing parallels between the Dutch tactician and his former boss Xabi Alonso. With Jonathan Tah’s departure to Bayern Munich, Tapsoba is expected to anchor Leverkusen’s backline—marking a symbolic passing of the torch within a reshaped squad.

Tapsoba, now the club’s longest-serving player since joining in January 2020, sees Ten Hag’s emphasis on structured build-up play and positional discipline as a perfect match for both his personal style and Leverkusen’s tactical DNA. “I already knew him from Ajax,” Tapsoba told Bild. “His approach is similar to Xabi Alonso’s, especially in how the game is built from the back. That fits my game perfectly.”

The transition comes after Leverkusen’s most successful season in history—Alonso guided them to a domestic double and a Europa League final. With the Spaniard now managing Real Madrid, Ten Hag arrives tasked with rebuilding a squad that has lost key figures like Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Tah.

Despite the changes, Tapsoba is ready to embrace a leadership mantle, stating, “It’s time for me to take the next step. I’ve learned a lot from Jona [Tah], and now it’s my turn to lead, both on and off the pitch.” The Burkinabé defender is expected to be vocal in organizing a young defensive unit that now includes several academy graduates and summer recruits.

Leverkusen’s new era had a rocky start with a 5–1 preseason defeat to Flamengo U-20s in Brazil, but they are preparing for a more telling test against Bundesliga side Bochum on July 27. Under Ten Hag, who led Ajax to three Eredivisie titles and developed stars like Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt, the expectation remains high for a continuation of the club’s progressive footballing philosophy.

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