Erik ten Hag should be questioned for allowing Granit Xhaka to leave Bayer Leverkusen this summer and join Sunderland.
That’s according to Lothar Matthäus, [who admits to Sport BILD](https://sportbild.bild.de/) that the midfielder’s move to Sunderland is the one he simply can’t accept for Leverkusen this summer.
It’s been a busy few months of upheaval at the German club as manager Xabi Alonso has joined Real Madrid and then stars such as Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, Jonathan Tah and Xhaka have joined the likes of Liverpool, Bayern Munich and Sunderland.
The latter’s move to the Stadium of Light was certainly among the most eyebrow raising as he’s swapped a potential title challenge and Champions League football for a potential relegation fight with the Premier League returnees.
At first it appeared that Leverkusen were not entirely keen on sanctioning the deal, with the prospect of losing a captain figure like Xhaka unwanted given the losses to the squad already.
The midfielder ultimately pushed for the move, though, and was given it amid reports of a falling out with Ten Hag behind the scenes as well.
Matthäus certainly isn’t impressed by the Dutch manager’s conduct and believes he should have done more to stop Xhaka heading to Sunderland.
_“At least no one can accuse Leverkusen of mourning their departures,”_ he said.
_“Xabi Alonso to Real Madrid. Jonathan Tah to FC Bayern. Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool. Lukas Hradecky to Monaco. And then Granit Xhaka to Sunderland! I can hardly remember seeing a more drastic upheaval at a top team._
_“Most of the departures are understandable and couldn’t have been prevented. I just don’t accept that in Xhaka’s case! Coach Erik ten Hag must accept the criticism of not fighting harder for the strategist and the heart of the team._
_“Ten Hag must rely on Robert Andrich as the absolute midfield leader. He can lead the rest of the 2024 championship team to keep Leverkusen at the top.”_