'We must learn very quickly': Leverkusen's Hjulmand on new-look team

New Bayer Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand faces a big rebuilding challenge and can't always depend on Alejandro Grimaldo's free-kick skills.

Grimaldo scored from two such set pieces in last week's 3-1 Bundesliga win against Eintracht Frankfurt, and did it again in their Champions League opening 2-2 draw at Copenhagen.

"It doesn't exactly speak in our favour that we need such moments," goalkeeper Mark Flekken admitted after Thursday's match in Denmark.

Hjulmand was also not impressed with the performance in his second match since replacing Erik ten Hag, and will hope for a better showing on Sunday in the Bundesliga against Borussia Mönchengladbach who have also axed coach Gerardo Seoane, with Eugen Polanski in charge for now.

"We have a lot of work ahead of us. We must learn very quickly," Hjulmand said. "We must clearly work on the defensive balance. But we are not here to train but to win."

Patience will be required as the 2024 Bundesliga champions and 2025 runners-up lost coach Xabi Alonso and key players such as Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, Jonathan Tah and Jeremie Frimpong in summer.

New promising players have arrived but managing director for sport Simon Rolfes told streaming portal DAZN that "of course not everything can already work.

"We want to build a new title winning team. But it will not reach its maximum this season," Rolfes said.