LEVERKUSEN, Germany (AP) — Bayer Leverkusen will face Newcastle in the Champions League without coach Kasper Hjulmand after the club said shortly before kickoff that he would miss the game for personal reasons.
An hour before the game was set to start, Leverkusen wrote in a post on X: “For personal reasons, our head coach Kasper Hjulmand will not be on the sideline.” It added that assistant Rogier Meijer would step in.
Leverkusen said Hjulmand is expected to return for Saturday's Bundesliga game against local rival Cologne.
The former Denmark coach has overseen a turnaround in Leverkusen's fortunes since he was appointed at short notice in September when the club's relationship with Erik ten Hag broke down after just three games.
Hjulmand has won 11 of 18 games in all competitions including a notable 2-0 surprise win over Manchester City last month.
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