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Despite the scoreline, the Dutchman remained unfazed, focusing on the bigger picture as his squad builds for the 2025/26 Bundesliga season.
Flamengo's youngsters dominated from the outset, with Lorran opening the scoring in the third minute, followed by an Arthur own goal. Matheus Goncalves struck twice before Pedro Leao made it 4-0 by half-time.
Substitute Gusttavo added a fifth, with Montrell Culbreth netting Leverkusen's lone reply in the 70th minute.
Ten Hag, who took charge after Xabi Alonso's departure to Real Madrid, shrugged off the result. "The score looks bad, but I don't care much about pre-season results.
"We must never lose like that, but avoiding injuries was key. We'll learn from this," he said, as reported by Sport BILD.
Leverkusen's goalkeeper Lukas Hradecky was impressed by Flamengo's talent. "I thought they were a mixed side like us, but they were exceptional. It's no surprise so many players from here make it in Europe. They deserved the win," he said.
The match, Leverkusen's first under Ten Hag, highlighted the club's growing Brazilian ties. They opened the Bayer 04 Football Academy Sao Paulo, led by former player Paulo Sergio, just before the tour. "This trip is about building connections and preparing in a new environment," said sporting director Simon Rolfes.
Despite the loss, Leverkusen fielded a blend of youth and experience, including new signings Jarell Quansah and Mark Flekken. Ten Hag made 10 substitutions in the second half, including Granit Xhaka and Alejandro Grimaldo, but the damage was done.
Posts on X from Flamengo's official account celebrated the "goleada" (thrashing), with videos showcasing their goals. Leverkusen's X updates focused on the tour's cultural significance, with a post on July 16 thanking Flamengo for sharing their facilities.
The defeat offers lessons as Leverkusen prepare for the Bundesliga and UEFA Champions League. Ten Hag's focus remains on development, with the club's next friendly set to fine-tune their approach.
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