However, since it's still the beginning of the season, it's very realistic to expect Leverkusen to perform consistently going forward, allowing them to compete closely with Bayern Munich at the top of the table. If Leverkusen finishes in second or third place this season, I don't think it's too bad. I mean, that would still mean Ten Hag has managed Leverkusen successfully, as they've undergone squad depth changes and lost several key players.
I would also consider Ten Hag successful if he can lead Leverkusen to a top-four finish in the Bundesliga. It's not easy to manage a team with a changed squad, especially when key players are gone. So, let alone second or third place, even if Ten Hag managed to finish fourth with Leverkusen, that would be quite remarkable for him. However, if Leverkusen's squad continues to play the same way they did in the first match, it will be quite difficult to achieve that position this season.